FLUORIDE SUPPLEMENT PRESCRIBING AND DENTAL REFERRAL PATTERNS AMONG ACADEMIC PEDIATRICIANS

Objective. To determine how well the current fluoride supplementation schedule was known by academic pediatricians and to examine the fluori de supplement prescribing and dental referral practices among primary care faculty pediatricians at four medical centers. Setting. Four univ ersity medical centers in North Carolina. Subjects. Primary care facul ty pediatricians. Method. A questionnaire pretested for clarity was di stributed to all identified full-time primary care pediatric faculty ( 42 members). Results. A total of 40 completed questionnaires were retu rned. Thirty-seven (93%) primary care faculty pediatricians reported t hat they routinely addressed the need for fluoride supplements for the ir patients, but only 28 (70%) determined the fluoride content of the drinking water before prescribing supplements. Thirty-five (87.5%) beg an supplements at the correct age, but fewer knew the correct doses fo r children of various ages. Only 23 (58%) referred their patients for oral examination and preventive care before the age of 36 months, cont rary to American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations. Conclusions. P ediatricians in an academic setting would be expected to be more knowl edgeable of current recommendations than those in private practice. Fa ilure to know and teach correct fluoride supplement recommendations an d failure to recommend early professional dental involvement can resul t in less than optimum oral health.