Recall
Recall
Once the child’s planned course of care is completed, a recall interval can be assigned. Based on the clinician’s knowledge of the child and an assessment of disease levels and the overall risk of or from dental disease, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that a recall interval of between 3 and 12 months is assigned for children.108 In areas where the incidence of dental caries in children is high, as is the case in many parts of the UK, assigning a recall interval of 12 months is only likely to be appropriate for a relatively small proportion of child patients. In addition to considering dental caries, other factors will influence the recall interval, including the child’s occlusal development and the need to provide any further care. It is important to reassess a child’s caries risk at each recall visit as this may change over time.
Assign a recall interval that is based on caries risk and specific to the oral health needs of the child.
- The SDCEP Oral Health Assessment and Review guidance provides further details on assigning a risk-based recall interval.
At each recall visit:
Carry out a focused oral health review,109 including asking again about toothbrushing practice and dietary habits (see Assessment).
Enquire about compliance with agreed action plans.
Closely monitor lesions managed with prevention alone (see Site-specific prevention). Consider recording plaque scores on the surface of the lesions, recording caries progression via radiographs or photography, and ensure the parent/carer is made fully aware of their responsibility. If caries progresses, consider another option.
Check the condition of fissure sealants: visually for wear and physically for integrity or leakage (see Professionally-delivered interventions).
Reassess the child’s caries control and caries risk (see Caries risk assessment).
If caries is not being effectively controlled by the parent/carer or the child, consider the possibility of dental neglect and the need for additional support (see Providing additional support).
If the child is assessed as at increased risk of developing caries, provide Enhanced Prevention at 3 monthly intervals. Otherwise, provide Standard Prevention at 6 monthly intervals, or exceptionally at longer intervals (e.g. for an older child if justified and recorded) (see Caries prevention).
Ensure comprehensive records are maintained and create a new personal care plan as required.