Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool — Tutorial and Download

Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and tested in pediatric practices, the Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool is easy to incorporate into your practice. Below is a tutorial to help you understand how best to use the tool as well as the various risk factors, protective factors, and clinical findings.

To learn more about the Brightening Oral Health Project in which this tool was tested, visit the Bright Futures Web site.

Use the Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool tutorial. On the tool below, simply click on the information or caution icons to learn more about each section of the tool.

Instructions for Use
This tool is intended for documenting caries risk of the child, however, two risk factors are based on the mother or primary caregiver’s oral health. All other factors and findings should be documented based on the child.

The child is at an absolute high risk for caries if any risk factors or clinical findings, marked with a sign, are documented yes. In the absence of a risk factors or clinical findings, the clinician may determine the child is at high risk of caries based on one or more positive responses to other risk factors or clinical findings. Answering yes to protective factors should be taken into account with risk factors/clinical findings in determining low versus high risk.

Visit: 6 month, 9 month, 12 month, 24 month, 30 month,
3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, other

Risk Factors

Mother or primary caregiver had active decay in the past 12 months

Mother or primary caregiver does not have a dentist

Continual bottle/sippy cup use with fluid other than water

Frequent snacking

Special health care needs

Medicaid eligible

Protective Factors

Existing dental home

Drinks fluoridated water or takes fluoride supplements

Fluoride varnish in the last 6 months

Has teeth brushed daily

Clinical Findings

White spots or visible decalcifications in the past 12 months

Obvious decay

Restorations (fillings) present

Visible plaque accumulation

Gingivitis (swollen/bleeding gums)

Teeth present

Healthy teeth

Caries Risk:	Low High
Completed:	Anticipatory Guidance Fluoride Varnish Dental Referral

Treatment of High Risk Children

If appropriate, high-risk children should receive professionally applied fluoride varnish and have their teeth brushed daily with an age-appropriate amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Referral to a pediatric dentist or a dentist comfortable caring for children should be made with follow-up to ensure that the child is being cared for in the dental home.

Reference

Download the Oral Health Risk Assessment Tool and the tool guidance. Start doing risk assessments in your office. Duplication of the tool for use in practice is encouraged.

This resource was developed by:

• The Brightening Oral Health Expert Group
  • Suzanne Boulter, MD, FAAP
  • Yasmi Crystal, DDS
  • Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP
  • Martha Ann Keels, DDS, PhD
  • Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS
• The Section on Oral Health Executive Committee

Photos were provided for this resource by:

• Rebecca Slayton, DDS, PhD
• Joanna Douglass, BDS, DDS

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American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007, 847-434-4000