Changes in Children's Receipt of Fluoride Varnish During Medical Visits and the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Primary care medical providers are recommended to apply fluoride varnish to the teeth of young children to prevent tooth decay. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted care delivery in health care settings and may have differentially impacted patients with different types of insurance. The objective of this study was to examine changes in children's receipt of fluoride varnish in the medical office during 2014-2022.

Methods

Using all-payer claims data from Massachusetts (2014-2022), we examined children's receipt of fluoride varnish during medical visits over time overall and by insurance-type. Because rates were highest in 2019, this was used as the reference year. We examined if results were driven by receipt (or non-receipt) of medical visits.

Results

Following

SUBMITTER: Kranz AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12820408 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature