PEDS Q5 - Infant Fluoride Practice Question & Verified Answer
When did the Surgeon General address oral health for the 2000
first time?
What are three organizations that have focused on - Surgeon General
advocating for pediatric oral health? - American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Academy of Pediatrics
What does the AAPD describe as a dental home? Ongoing relationship between the dentist and patient including all oral health care
given in a comprehensive way
When should a dental home be established? No later than 12 months of age
When should a child have their first oral health risk At 6 months of age
assessment?
What is early childhood caries? Disease of 1 or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth
in a child under the age of 6.
What is severe early childhood caries? - Smooth surface caries in children 3 and younger
- Age 3 with 4+ decayed, missing, or filled teeth
- Age 4 with 5+ decayed, missing or filled teeth
- Age 5 with 6+ decayed, missing, or filled teeth
What is the etiology of ECC? Mutans streptococci
T or F False; Cariogenic bacteria is introduced into children once they are born
Some children are born with cariogenic bacteria in their
mouths.
Can cariogenic bacteria infect unerupted tooth epithelial Recent evidence shows that cariogenic bacteria are able to colonize epithelium of
surfaces or do they need erupted teeth to colonize? babies with no teeth
How do babies get cariogenic bacteria in their mouths? Through horizontal or vertical transmission of oral flora
What is vertical transmission? Transmission from parent to offspring
(bottle tasting, sharing utensils, fingers in mouth, etc)
What percent of bacterial transmission is vertical? 71%
How can we decrease the risk of vertical transmission of - Decreasing the cariogenicity of the mother's saliva before birth of the child
cariogenic bacteria? - This can include restorations, topical fluoride, improving hygiene habits,
chlorhexidine rinse, etc
Are xylitol mints/gum good for children? The research is uncertain at best. Ultimately establishing a candy or gum habit early
in a child's life may lead to non-xylitol choices in the future and overall increasing
caries risk. Probably not the best idea
Stuvia 2026-2027
, PEDS Q5 - Infant Fluoride Practice Question & Verified Answer
What is horizontal transmission? Acquisition of cariogenic bacteria from siblings or other children
What are some ways to decrease the horizontal - Decreasing the cariogenicity of the sibling's mouth before child is born
transmission of cariogenic bacteria?
What promotes increase in cariogenic activity and biofilm Fermentable carbs such as milk, fruit juice, food debris, etc.
production in the mouth?
When is saliva flow the lowest in infants? While they sleep
Describe the oral self cleaning functions while a child is - Copious amount of saliva
awake - Mouth movements circulating saliva
- Starving bacteria
Describe the oral self cleaning functions while a child is - Minimal amount of saliva
sleeping - Mouth movement is minimal
- Bacterial feast from leftover carbs
What are the most susceptible tooth surfaces in an infant? - Cervical of maxillary incisors
- Deep pits/fissures
- Proximal surfaces
Why are cervical of maxillary incisors prone to decay? They have thinnest enamel and are present in the mouth the longest
What is the ECC caries progression sequence? - Plaque accumulation
- Demineralization
- Early cavitation
- Frank carious lesions
What teeth are usually affected by baby bottle caries? - Maxillary incisors
- Maxillary and Mandibular molars
What teeth are usually unaffected by baby bottle caries? Mandibular incisors due to tongue position and movement
What teeth are usually affected by nursing caries? Same as baby bottle caries;
- Maxillary incisors
- Maxillary and Mandibular molars
What teeth are affected during rampant caries? Lower incisors starting as cervical lesions and affecting all primary teeth
What is the etiology of rampant caries? lack of oral hygiene after eating solid food; may have started out as baby bottle
caries and progressed once solid food was introduced
What percent of children are affected by ECC? 5% or more
Stuvia 2026-2027
When did the Surgeon General address oral health for the 2000
first time?
What are three organizations that have focused on - Surgeon General
advocating for pediatric oral health? - American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Academy of Pediatrics
What does the AAPD describe as a dental home? Ongoing relationship between the dentist and patient including all oral health care
given in a comprehensive way
When should a dental home be established? No later than 12 months of age
When should a child have their first oral health risk At 6 months of age
assessment?
What is early childhood caries? Disease of 1 or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth
in a child under the age of 6.
What is severe early childhood caries? - Smooth surface caries in children 3 and younger
- Age 3 with 4+ decayed, missing, or filled teeth
- Age 4 with 5+ decayed, missing or filled teeth
- Age 5 with 6+ decayed, missing, or filled teeth
What is the etiology of ECC? Mutans streptococci
T or F False; Cariogenic bacteria is introduced into children once they are born
Some children are born with cariogenic bacteria in their
mouths.
Can cariogenic bacteria infect unerupted tooth epithelial Recent evidence shows that cariogenic bacteria are able to colonize epithelium of
surfaces or do they need erupted teeth to colonize? babies with no teeth
How do babies get cariogenic bacteria in their mouths? Through horizontal or vertical transmission of oral flora
What is vertical transmission? Transmission from parent to offspring
(bottle tasting, sharing utensils, fingers in mouth, etc)
What percent of bacterial transmission is vertical? 71%
How can we decrease the risk of vertical transmission of - Decreasing the cariogenicity of the mother's saliva before birth of the child
cariogenic bacteria? - This can include restorations, topical fluoride, improving hygiene habits,
chlorhexidine rinse, etc
Are xylitol mints/gum good for children? The research is uncertain at best. Ultimately establishing a candy or gum habit early
in a child's life may lead to non-xylitol choices in the future and overall increasing
caries risk. Probably not the best idea
Stuvia 2026-2027
, PEDS Q5 - Infant Fluoride Practice Question & Verified Answer
What is horizontal transmission? Acquisition of cariogenic bacteria from siblings or other children
What are some ways to decrease the horizontal - Decreasing the cariogenicity of the sibling's mouth before child is born
transmission of cariogenic bacteria?
What promotes increase in cariogenic activity and biofilm Fermentable carbs such as milk, fruit juice, food debris, etc.
production in the mouth?
When is saliva flow the lowest in infants? While they sleep
Describe the oral self cleaning functions while a child is - Copious amount of saliva
awake - Mouth movements circulating saliva
- Starving bacteria
Describe the oral self cleaning functions while a child is - Minimal amount of saliva
sleeping - Mouth movement is minimal
- Bacterial feast from leftover carbs
What are the most susceptible tooth surfaces in an infant? - Cervical of maxillary incisors
- Deep pits/fissures
- Proximal surfaces
Why are cervical of maxillary incisors prone to decay? They have thinnest enamel and are present in the mouth the longest
What is the ECC caries progression sequence? - Plaque accumulation
- Demineralization
- Early cavitation
- Frank carious lesions
What teeth are usually affected by baby bottle caries? - Maxillary incisors
- Maxillary and Mandibular molars
What teeth are usually unaffected by baby bottle caries? Mandibular incisors due to tongue position and movement
What teeth are usually affected by nursing caries? Same as baby bottle caries;
- Maxillary incisors
- Maxillary and Mandibular molars
What teeth are affected during rampant caries? Lower incisors starting as cervical lesions and affecting all primary teeth
What is the etiology of rampant caries? lack of oral hygiene after eating solid food; may have started out as baby bottle
caries and progressed once solid food was introduced
What percent of children are affected by ECC? 5% or more
Stuvia 2026-2027
