Secondary prevention includes which of the following?

• A. Radiographic examination
• B. Vaccination
• C. Oral health education
• D. Sealants

Answer: (A)

Secondary prevention is about finding disease early and stopping its progress, so interventions can prevent it from getting worse. A radiographic examination is the best fit here because X-rays reveal caries that isn’t yet visible clinically—such as proximal lesions between teeth or beneath restorations—as well as early bone or periapical changes. Identifying these issues early allows targeted, minimally invasive treatments (like remineralization strategies or conservative restorations) to arrest progression before symptoms develop or more extensive decay occurs.

In contrast, measures like oral health education and sealants are primarily aimed at preventing the disease from starting (primary prevention), and vaccination isn’t a standard tool for caries prevention.