TABLE 4.

Oral health-related practices during well baby visits among paediatricians and family physicians in Canada

Oral health-related practice	Paediatricians (n=237), %	Family physicians (n=300), %	P*
Visual oral examination	87.0	69.3	<0.001
Visual examination of teeth	73.9	52.4	<0.001
Counsel parent on teething	60.4	44.6	<0.001
Assess the child’s risk for developing tooth decay	53.2	25.6	<0.001
First dental visit recommendation for the child
Do not recommend	1.3	10.2	0.001
Younger than one year	2.7	2.7
One to two years	20.0	20.0
Older than two years to three years	55.6	45.8
Older than three years	20.4	21.4
Steps taken when a child with tooth decay is identified
Never seen a child with tooth decay	2.5	9.4	<0.001
Do not take any particular steps	0.4	0
Make a note on the medical chart	3.4	4.0
Suggest or prescribe treatment	3.0	1.3
Advise the parent or caregiver to take the child to a dentist	76.3	83.2
Make a formal referral to a dentist	14.4	2.0

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