A Low-Cost Path to Childhood Tooth Cavity Prevention

Guests: Dr. Elise Sarvas, DDS, dental director of the Minnesota Oral Health Project & Dr. Amos Deinard, MD, University of Minnesota pediatrician.

Many young Minnesota children from low-income families lack access to dental care. When oral health issues arise, caregivers often seek temporary and expensive treatment in hospital emergency rooms. But there’s a simple, low-cost procedure that protects kids from developing cavities. Dr. Elise Sarvas, dental director for the Minnesota Oral Health Project and Dr. Amos Deinard, University of Minnesota pediatrician discuss the benefits of applying fluoride varnish to children’s teeth to prevent caries, more commonly known as cavities.