Which of the following is an example of primary prevention?

Which of the following is an example of primary prevention?

• A. Vaccines
• B. Radiographic exam
• C. Pap smear
• D. Scaling and root planing

Answer: (A)

Preventing the onset of disease is the goal of primary prevention. Vaccines fit this goal because they stimulate the immune system to build protection before exposure to a pathogen, so infection is prevented or its impact is greatly reduced. That proactive prevention is what makes vaccines a classic example of primary prevention. The other options describe activities that occur after a problem is present or detected rather than before it starts. A radiographic exam is used to reveal disease that may already be developing or to screen for pathology, which is a detection approach typical of secondary prevention. A Pap smear serves as screening to find early cellular changes before they become invasive cancer, also secondary prevention. Scaling and root planing is a treatment aimed at managing and removing disease that already exists in the periodontal tissues, aligning with therapeutic care rather than prevention.

Preventing the onset of disease is the goal of primary prevention. Vaccines fit this goal because they stimulate the immune system to build protection before exposure to a pathogen, so infection is prevented or its impact is greatly reduced. That proactive prevention is what makes vaccines a classic example of primary prevention.

The other options describe activities that occur after a problem is present or detected rather than before it starts. A radiographic exam is used to reveal disease that may already be developing or to screen for pathology, which is a detection approach typical of secondary prevention. A Pap smear serves as screening to find early cellular changes before they become invasive cancer, also secondary prevention. Scaling and root planing is a treatment aimed at managing and removing disease that already exists in the periodontal tissues, aligning with therapeutic care rather than prevention.