Dental Sealants a Resource Guide
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Dental Sealants A Resource Guide Fifth Edition Prepared by Ruth Barzel, M.A. Katrina Holt, M.P.H., M.S., R.D., FAND Cite as National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Permission is given to save and print this publica- Center. 2021. Dental Sealants: A Resource Guide tion and to forward it, in its entirety, to others. (5th ed.). Washington, DC: National Maternal and Requests for permission to use all or part of the Child Oral Health Resource Center. information contained in this publication in other ways should be sent to the address below. Dental Sealants: A Resource Guide (5th ed.) © 2021 by National Maternal and Child Oral National Maternal and Child Oral Health Health Resource Center, Georgetown University Resource Center Georgetown University This publication was supported by the Health E-mail: [email protected] Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of Website: www.mchoralhealth.org the U.S. Department of Health and Human Ser- vices (HHS) as part of an annual award totaling $1,000,000 with no funding from nongovern- mental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official policy of HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. government, nor should any endorsements be inferred. Contents Introduction ................................ 3 About This Guide ........................... 5 Acknowledgments ......................... 6 Materials .................................... 8 Policy .................................... 8 Professional Education, Tools, and Training ................................ 8 Public Education ....................... 12 State and Local Programs .............. 13 Organizations ............................. 16 Introduction Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic cavities by covering them with a protective shield diseases of childhood. If left untreated, it can have that blocks out germs and food.1 Once applied, serious consequences, including problems with sealants protect against 80 percent of cavities eating, speaking, and learning. for 2 years and continue to protect against 50 percent of cavities for up to 4 years.2 Children Dental sealants are thin coatings that when ages 6–11 without sealants have almost three painted on the chewing surfaces of the back times more first molar cavities than those with teeth (molars) can prevent tooth decay for many sealants.1 years. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from Between 1999–2004 and 2011–2016, dental sealant During 2011–2016, sealant prevalence was higher prevalence among children ages 6–11 increased among:3 from 31 percent to 42 percent.3 • Children ages 9–11 (50 percent) compared to chil- dren ages 6–8 (32 percent) 42% Mexican-American children (44 percent) and white 40% • non-Hispanic children (43 percent) compared to 31% black non-Hispanic children (31 percent) 30% • Children from families with incomes of 200 percent or more than the federal poverty level (FPL) (44 20% percent) compared to children from families with incomes of less than 100 percent of FPL (37 percent) 10% 0% 1999–2004 2011–2016 DENTAL SEALANTS: A RESOURCE GUIDE 3 Between 1999–2004 and 2011–2016, dental sealant During 2011–2016, sealant prevalence was higher prevalence among adolescents ages 12–19 increased among:3 from 38 percent to 48 percent.3 • Adolescents ages 12–15 (51 percent) compared to adolescents ages 16–19 (44 percent) 48% • White non-Hispanic children (53 percent) compared to Mexican-American children (45 percent) and black 40% 38% non-Hispanic children (37 percent) • Adolescents from families with incomes of 200 per- 30% cent or more (51 percent) compared to adolescents from families with incomes of less than 100 percent of FPL (43 percent). 20% 10% 0% 1999–2004 2011–2016 Although dental sealant prevalence for children References ages 6–11 and adolescents ages 12–19 increased 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. by 10 percentage points between 1999–2004 and Dental Sealants [webpage]. Atlanta, GA: Centers for 2011–2016, this effective intervention remains Disease Control and Prevention. underused. Less than half of children and ado- 3 2. Community Preventive Services Task Force. 2016. lescents have sealants. Children and adolescents Oral Health: Preventing Dental Caries, School-Based from families with low incomes are at least 7 per- Dental Sealant Delivery Programs. Washington, DC: cent less likely than their counterparts from families Community Preventive Services Task Force. with higher incomes to have sealants and twice as 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019. 3 likely to have untreated cavities. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Eden- Depending on state laws and regulations, den- tulism, United States, 1999 –2004 to 2011–2016. tal sealants can be applied by a dentist, dental Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and hygienist, or other qualified dental professional. Prevention. They can be applied in dental offices or using 4. Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors. portable dental equipment in community set- 2017. Best Practice Approach: School-Based Dental 1 tings like schools. School-based dental sealant Sealant Programs. Reno, NV: Association of State programs seek to ensure that children and adoles- and Territorial Dental Directors. cents receive sealants through an evidence-based 5. Griffin SO, Wei L, Gooch BF, Weno K, Espinoza L. approach. These programs are generally designed 2016. Vital signs: Dental sealant use and untreated to maximize effectiveness by targeting children at decay among U.S. school-aged children. Morbidity high risk for tooth decay, such as those eligible for and Mortality Weekly Report 65:1141–1145. free and reduced-cost meal programs.4 Increasing dental sealant prevalence among children and adolescents from families with low incomes, especially non-Hispanic black children and adolescents, could substantially reduce the prevalence of tooth decay,3, 5 leading to healthier and more productive lives. DENTAL SEALANTS: A RESOURCE GUIDE 4 About This Guide The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) developed this publi ca- tion, Dental Sealants: A Resource Guide (5th ed.), Assessment (e.g., questionnaire, to provide information to health professionals, readiness assessment, survey) program administrators, educators, policymakers, and others about the use and application of dental sealants. Book The resource guide is divided into two sections. The first section describes materials, such as briefs, fact sheets, guidelines, manuals, papers, reports, Brief, paper, or report and videos, published from 2016 through 2021 and reflecting current science and practice, as well as seminal (i.e., very important or influen- tial) resources published before 2016. The second section lists federal agencies, national professional Curriculum (e.g., course, training) associations, resource centers, and national coali- tions that may serve as resources. Guide or guidelines (e.g., manual, In the materials section, each resource includes an pocket guide, practice guidance, icon to help readers quickly identify materials. The resource guide, user guide) key to the categories appears on the right. For further information, we encourage you to con- Infographic or poster tact the organizations listed in the second section of the resource guide. Your state and local depart- ments of health, state and local oral-health-related associations and societies, state and local oral Tool (e.g., brochure, checklist, health coalitions, and university-based libraries flipbook, flipchart, form, are additional sources of information. OHRC will handout, tip sheet, toolkit) update the resource guide periodically, and we would appreciate hearing from you if you know of any relevant resources that are not included in Video this edition. DENTAL SEALANTS: A RESOURCE GUIDE 5 Acknowledgments The following National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center staff members assisted in the development of this resource guide: Katy Battani, Beth Lowe, Sarah Kolo, and Olivia Pickett. We are grateful to the following individuals for their review of and contributions to the guide: Maria Teresa Canto, Nancy Carter, Steve Geiermann, Mariela Layba, Bill Maas, Sandy Tesch, and Pam Vodicka. And we would like to thank those who submitted items for inclusion in the guide. DENTAL SEALANTS: A RESOURCE GUIDE 6 Materials Materials Policy Policy Frameworks Supporting When Regulations Block Access to School-Based Dental Sealant Oral Health Care, Children at Risk Programs and Their Application in Suffer: The School Dental Sealant Minnesota Program Dilemma This brief identifies laws and policies that could This brief describes state-based regulations or encourage consideration, adoption, and imple- policies (e.g., related to dental practice acts, oral mentation of state-level school-based dental seal- exams, employment requirements, procedures ant programs. The brief highlights the state of the allowed under general supervision, Medicaid) laws and policies in Minnesota. Topics include that limit or prevent dental hygienists from apply- considerations for forming partnerships between ing dental sealants to children’s teeth at school schools and oral health professionals, overcom- or that create a financial burden for school-based ing policy barriers, and statewide coordination. dental sealant programs. The brief also discusses responses from a questionnaire for state dental Bauerly BC. 2019. Policy Frameworks