Dental Caries (Cavities): School-Based Dental Sealant Delivery Programs
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Dental sealants are clear or opaque plastic materials applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent dental caries.
School-based programs provide dental sealants to students in two settings:
-Onsite at schools using portable dental equipment
-Offsite in dental clinics
Programs may target the following:
-Entire schools in low income neighborhoods
-Individuals within a school, based on their risk for tooth decay
School-based programs provide dental sealants to students in two settings:
-Onsite at schools using portable dental equipment
-Offsite in dental clinics
Programs may target the following:
-Entire schools in low income neighborhoods
-Individuals within a school, based on their risk for tooth decay
Impact
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends school-based programs to deliver dental sealants and prevent dental caries (tooth decay) among children.
Results / Accomplishments
Programs that delivered sealants within school settings increased the proportion of students who received sealants and decreased occurrence of tooth decay.
-Implementing a sealant delivery program led to a 26 percentage point increase in the number of students who received sealants (2 studies). Greater increases were seen among students from low-income families.
-Students who received dental sealants had a median of 50% fewer cavities up to four years later as compared with students who did not receive sealants (interquartile interval [IQI]: 38% to 61%; 2 studies).
In the systematic review of sealant efficacy, dental sealants were shown to reduce dental caries by a median of 81% at 2 year follow up (IQI:74% to 88%; 12 studies).
-Implementing a sealant delivery program led to a 26 percentage point increase in the number of students who received sealants (2 studies). Greater increases were seen among students from low-income families.
-Students who received dental sealants had a median of 50% fewer cavities up to four years later as compared with students who did not receive sealants (interquartile interval [IQI]: 38% to 61%; 2 studies).
In the systematic review of sealant efficacy, dental sealants were shown to reduce dental caries by a median of 81% at 2 year follow up (IQI:74% to 88%; 12 studies).
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS H21-8
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS H21-8
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Oral Health
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