{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T14:59:53Z","timestamp":1789052393498,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,19]],"date-time":"2024-07-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1721347200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000072","name":"National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["R01DE026741"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["R01DE026741"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000072","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Llyod and Kay Chapman Endowed Chair for Oral Health"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The goal of this study was to describe medical providers\u2019 fluoride-related beliefs and practices, experiences with fluoride-hesitant caregivers, and barriers to incorporating oral health activities into their practice. In this cross-sectional study, we specifically tested the hypothesis of whether these factors differed between pediatric and family medicine providers. A 39-item online survey was administered to a convenience sample of pediatric and family medicine providers in Washington state and Ohio (U.S.A.). Responses to the fluoride survey were compared between pediatric and family medicine providers with a chi-square test (\u03b1 = 0.05). Of the 354 study participants, 45% were pediatric providers and 55% were family medicine providers. About 61.9% of providers believed fluoridated water was highly effective at preventing tooth decay while only 29.1% believed prescription fluoride supplements were highly effective. Nearly all providers recommend over-the-counter fluoride toothpaste (87.3%), 44.1% apply topical fluoride in clinic, and 30.8% prescribe fluoride supplements. Most providers reported fluoride hesitancy was a small problem or not a problem (82.5%) and the most common concerns patients raise about fluoride were similar to those raised about vaccines. Lack of time was the most commonly reported barrier to incorporating oral health into practice, which was more commonly reported by family medicine providers than pediatric providers (65.6% vs. 50.3%; p = .005). Pediatric and family medicine providers have early and frequent access to children before children visit a dentist. Improving the use of fluorides through children\u2019s medical visits could improve pediatric oral health and reduce oral health inequities, especially for vulnerable populations at increased risk for tooth decay.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0307085","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,19]],"date-time":"2024-07-19T17:25:40Z","timestamp":1721409940000},"page":"e0307085","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["A cross-sectional study of physicians on fluoride-related beliefs and practices, and experiences with fluoride-hesitant caregivers"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Tiffany","family":"Bass","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Courtney M.","family":"Hill","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer L.","family":"Cully","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-4953-8973","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Sophie R.","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2289-7747","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Donald L.","family":"Chi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,19]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0307085.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.4103\/0976-9668.107257","article-title":"Early childhood caries update: A review of causes, diagnoses, and treatments","volume":"4","author":"H \u00c7olak","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Nat Sci Biol Med"},{"issue":"1\u20132","key":"pone.0307085.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1440-1754.2006.00777.x","article-title":"Early childhood caries: Current evidence for aetiology and prevention","volume":"42","author":"MG Gussy","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Paediatr Child Health"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0307085.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1900","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.2010.200915","article-title":"Impact of poor oral health on children\u2019s school attendance and performance","volume":"101","author":"SL Jackson","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0307085.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jobcr.2020.02.006","article-title":"Impact of early childhood caries on quality of life: Child and parent perspectives","volume":"10","author":"N Singh","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Oral Biol Craniofac Res"},{"key":"pone.0307085.ref005","volume-title":"Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): Classifications, consequences, and preventive strategies","author":"American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry","year":"2020"},{"key":"pone.0307085.ref006","unstructured":"American Academy of Pediatrics: Fluoride remains a powerful tool to prevent tooth decay."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0307085.ref007","first-page":"115","article-title":"Anticipatory guidance in infant oral health: Rationale and recommendations","volume":"61","author":"OM Sanchez","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am Fam Physician"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0307085.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.2012.300899","article-title":"Relationship between medical well baby visits and first dental examinations for young children in medicaid","volume":"103","author":"DL Chi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0307085.ref009","article-title":"Bright futures: Guidelines for health supervision of infants, children, and adolescents: Pocket guide","author":"JF Hagan","year":"2017"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0307085.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1224","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2014-2984","article-title":"Maintaining and improving the oral health of young children","volume":"134","author":"DM Krol","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0307085.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2017-016078","article-title":"Barriers and facilitators in the integration of oral health into primary care: A scoping review","volume":"7","author":"H Harnagea","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0307085.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1007\/BF03262681","article-title":"Cochrane reviews of randomized trials of fluoride therapies for preventing dental caries","volume":"10","author":"VC Marinho","year":"2009","journal-title":"Eur Arch Paediatr Dent"},{"key":"pone.0307085.ref013","unstructured":"Fluoride: Topical and systemic supplements | American Dental Association. 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