Which of the following is a clinician step to prevent oral disease?

• A. Encourage regular dental visits
• B. Minimize access to care
• C. Increase medications with oral effects
• D. Avoid fluoride toothpaste

Answer: (A)

Regular preventive care guided by the clinician is essential for stopping oral disease before it starts or progresses. Encouraging patients to come in for routine visits allows professional cleaning to remove plaque, monitoring of caries and periodontal risk, and delivery of preventive treatments like fluoride and sealants, while also reinforcing daily hygiene and dietary habits. This ongoing contact helps catch problems early and tailor prevention plans to each person’s risk level. By contrast, limiting access to care removes the chance for screening and prophylaxis; increasing medications with oral effects doesn’t directly prevent dental disease and could introduce unnecessary risks; and avoiding fluoride toothpaste removes a main, proven defense against caries.