Which of the following is NOT a tertiary prevention example?

• A. Pulpal therapy
• B. Extractions
• C. Fixed prosthodontics
• D. Oral cancer screening

Answer: (D)

Understanding prevention in dentistry: primary prevention aims to stop disease from developing, secondary prevention involves early detection to prevent progression, and tertiary prevention focuses on reducing damage or restoring function after disease has established itself.

Pulpal therapy is a treatment used after caries has affected the pulp to save the tooth and prevent progression to tooth loss, which places it in the realm of tertiary prevention. Extractions remove a non-restorable tooth to control infection and prevent further complications, also a tertiary approach. Fixed prosthodontics, such as crowns or bridges, restore function after tooth loss and help prevent functional decline, making it tertiary as well. Oral cancer screening, on the other hand, is aimed at detecting cancer early to improve outcomes, which is a secondary prevention activity rather than tertiary. Therefore, it is not a tertiary prevention example.