Which of the following is listed as a secondary prevention example?

• A. Fluoride varnish application, sealants, water fluoridation
• B. Oral cancer awareness campaigns, dental hygiene instruction, nutrition counseling
• C. Scaling and root planing, dental implants, endodontic therapy
• D. Drilling and filling a cavity, periodontal therapy, cancer screenings

Answer: (D)

Secondary prevention is about catching disease early or stopping its progression after it has begun. Restoring a decayed tooth by drilling and filling stops the caries from advancing toward the pulp and preserves tooth structure. Periodontal therapy, like scaling and root planing, targets early gum disease to prevent further attachment loss and tooth loss. Cancer screenings aim to find cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage, which is exactly the goal of secondary prevention. In contrast, preventive measures such as fluoride varnish, sealants, and water fluoridation prevent disease from occurring in the first place. Education and counseling reduce risk factors but are typically considered primary prevention, while other treatments shown don’t consistently illustrate the early-detection or progression-halting focus of secondary prevention.