Table 5: Steps family physicians and pediatricians take if they suspect a child has tooth decay

Steps taken (can be more than 1)*	Family physicians, no. (%) n = 163	Pediatricians, no. (%) n = 16
Advise the parent or caregiver to take the child to a dentist	145 (89.0)	16 (100.0)
Make a note in the medical chart	73 (44.8)	11 (68.8)
Give the parent or caregiver the name(s) of a dentist	39 (23.9)	8 (50.0)
Do not formally refer children to dentists	14 (8.6)	2 (12.5)
Have never seen a child with tooth decay	10 (6.1)	1 (6.3)
Make a formal referral to a dentist	10 (6.1)	0 (0.0)
Other	9 (5.5)	3 (18.8)

*Number for each category may add to more than total and percentages may add up to more than 100 because participants were allowed to select more than 1 response.