In this video, the first provider asks closed-ended questions during a caries risk assessment with an adolescent patient to show how ineffective they can be. Then, a second provider engages in a caries risk assessment that is more like a conversation, creating an atmosphere that is warm, engaging, and inviting — and less like an exercise in checking boxes. We then hear from the patient about the difference between the two experiences.
In this video, the provider shows how to ask an open-ended question to gain additional information from an adolescent patient.
In this video, the provider shows how to ask an open-ended question to gain additional information from an adolescent patient. Open-ended questions, as opposed to closed-ended questions (e.g., When was the last time you went to the dentist? Do you have any cavities?) often result in more descriptive answers and increase engagement in patients.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is highly effective in arresting the progression of active caries as well as preventing new lesions. It has been commonly used as a treatment for children, and many parents appreciate its ease of use. Evidence shows that the application of SDF in children arrested 61% of new carious lesions. However, SDF is not without downsides: it leaves a black stain on these lesions and may burn or stain the soft tissue surrounding them.
This resource is designed to support dental care teams in identifying patient's health and risk status using in-office and teledental service modalities.
The intersection of VAP, COVID-19, oral health, and equity
A report from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health reinforces the connection between oral health and overall health and underscores the breadth of health issues — including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) — that ongoing oral health care can protect against. Key findings from the report include: