Summary
In this episode, Salme Lavigne, scientific editor of the Canadian Journal
of Dental Hygiene (CJDH), interviews Robert Schroth, the lead author of an
article published in the February 2026 issue of the journal (Volume 60,
Number 1). Learn about the new Canadian Caries Risk Assessment Tool and
how it can help oral health and non-oral health professionals identify
young children at risk of developing cavities. Endorsed by the Canadian Pediatric Society, the
Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Canadian Association of
Public Health Dentistry, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, this tool
allows providers in non-traditional clinical settings to assess the risk
of (and take defined actions upon) tooth decay for children under the age
of six.
Practical Implications for Dental Hygienists
-
The Canadian Caries Risk Assessment Tool can be used by oral health and
non-oral health primary care providers to screen preschoolers, provide
oral health education and preventive oral care, and aid referrals to
establish dental homes.
-
This study raises awareness among oral health professionals, non-oral
health professionals, and policy makers of the need for a prevention
program in populations with a high burden of caries and limited access
to oral health care.
Also, browse past
issues of CJDH for research on similar topics. Individual journal articles
can be easily viewed, downloaded, and printed from cjdh.ca.
Would you prefer to listen to the research article? Use the
Natural Reader
text-to-speech tool—simply select the language of the article, select your
narrator of choice, upload the article, and it will read it aloud for you.
CDHA members who wish to receive a certificate of completion for this
learning activity should click the Access Now button and
complete the curriculum. After responding to a feedback survey, your
certificate will be available in your online CDHA profile.
Learning Outcomes
Following the learning activity, participants will be able to:
-
Identify areas of their dental hygiene practice requiring improvement
-
Use knowledge sources to inform dental hygiene practice and enhance
service provision
-
Reflect on challenges of applying new scientific research to practice
Format for Learning
The recorded interview is available in English with French closed
captioning. The research article is available in English.
The interview is approximately 15 minutes in length; access to the
accompanying research article and plain language summary is provided along with a set of self-reflection
questions. The learning is self-directed, and the article can be
downloaded and printed. The self-reflection questions must be completed
prior to receiving a certificate of completion. It is expected that
viewing the recording, reading the article, and answering the questions
will take you at least 2 hours.
A certificate of completion will be provided. After watching the video,
reading the article, answering the questions, and responding to a
feedback survey, you can access a certificate of completion from your
online CDHA profile.
Speakers
Robert J Schroth, DMD, MSc, PhD, Diplomate ABDPH
Robert Schroth is a professor in the Department of Preventive Dental
Science at the University of Manitoba and a research scientist at
the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. A dental
clinician‒scientist and leading expert on early childhood caries,
Dr. Schroth currently holds a Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Applied Public Health Chair in oral health on the theme of “Public
Health Approaches to Improve Access to Oral Health Care and Oral
Health Status for Young Children in Canada.”
Salme Lavigne, PhD, RDH
Salme Lavigne was appointed scientific editor of the
Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, effective December 1,
2015. She holds a diploma in dental hygiene from the University of
Toronto, a bachelor’s degree in biomedical anthropology from
Lakehead University, a master’s degree in dental hygiene education
from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a doctorate in
community health sciences from the University of Manitoba. Salme was
the founding director of the dental hygiene program at Confederation
College, Thunder Bay, and served as director of the School of Dental
Hygiene, University of Manitoba, for 13 years where she developed
and initiated the first BScDH program at that institution. An
internationally recognized researcher and educator, Salme has
received Alumni of Distinction awards from the University of Toronto
and the UMKC School of Dentistry, and a Life Membership Award from
the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.