Policy on the Role of Dental Prophylaxis in Pediatric Dentistry

Policy statement

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry supports a professional prophylaxis during new patient comprehensive or evaluation and periodic examinations to:

• instruct the caregiver and child or adolescent in proper oral hygiene techniques.
• remove dental plaque, extrinsic stains, and cal- culus deposits from the teeth.
• facilitate the examination of hard and soft tissues.
• introduce dental procedures to the young child and apprehensive patient.

Determination of interval for periodic examinations takes into consideration a patient’s assessed risk for caries²² and periodontal disease⁶.