Heading to the dentist as an infant or toddler doesn’t do much to prevent tooth decay later on but does cost more money, suggests a new study—despite the fact that it’s been recommended by three professional societies for years.
“We observed little evidence of the benefits of this care, regardless of the provider,” lead author Justin Blackburn, Ph.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, and his colleagues wrote in JAMA Pediatrics. “In fact, preventive dental care from dentists appears to increase caries-related treatment, which is surprising.”
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have a “dental home”—a practice that begins providing children with preventive dental care—“as early as 6 months old and no later than 12 months of age.” Their rationale is that “children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.”
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It seems equal access to dental care isn’t helping children’s oral health either – click here for more.
