The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not support oral health screenings and preventive interventions conducted by primary care providers (PCPs) for asymptomatic adults.
Following a systematic review, USPSTF concluded that the evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of PCPs conducting routine oral screenings for conditions, including caries or periodontal-related diseases, in adults, according to a statement released on November 7 from the USPSTF.
The review identified six studies that included 1,281 self-reported questionnaires on perceived dental health designed to distinguish between persons with and without periodontitis.
In the future, more research is needed and must focus on screening and preventive interventions that can be performed in nondental primary care settings and be inclusive of populations with a high prevalence of oral health conditions, USPSTF concluded.
