Dental Sealant Program

What is the Dental Sealant and Prevention Program?

 The dental sealant program provides preventative dental sealants to school children in the second and sixth grades at qualifying schools. A dentist, dental hygienist and dental assistant travel to areas schools to screen children for tooth decay and place dental sealants as needed. Starting in the fall of 2012, the health department will also be offering dental cleanings and fluoride varnish applications for each student.

 What is a dental sealant?

 A dental sealant is a thin plastic coating that is applied to chewing surfaces of the molars, or back teeth that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush. Molars have pits and fissures where food can get stuck, in turn making molars more susceptible to cavities. By applying dental sealants to fill in the pits and fissures the risk of decay is decreased.

 How are dental sealants applied?

 Applying dental sealants is a simple process that only takes a few minutes and can be done by a dental hygienist. The tooth is cleaned, dried off, and then the sealant is painted on. It takes about a minute for the sealant to dry and begin offering protection.

 How does the Health Department’s dental sealant and prevention program work?

 The dental program has three parts: education/consent, examination by a dentist and then the placement of the sealants, a dental cleaning, and fluoride varnish application  by a dental hygienist.

 About three weeks before the students are to be examined, a dental hygienist or a dental assistant will present an educational program to the children about tooth decay and the need for sealants. A packet of information and consent forms is sent home for the children’s parents to review and sign, and then return back to the school.

 A volunteer dentist will see those children whose parents have given permission. The dentist will examine their teeth for signs of decay, and direct the hygienist as to which teeth need sealants. If the dentist finds signs of decay, the school nurse will refer the child to a dentist in their area.

 Over the next week, the hygienist will place sealants on the children’s teeth. The process only takes a few minutes, requires no drilling, no shots and is painless. The hygienist cleans the tooth, rinses it and then paints the sealant on. It takes about a minute for the sealant to harden to form a protective shield, much like a helmet that football players wear to protect their heads from injury. A dental cleaning and fluoride application will then be done for  those whose parents have consented.

 Are the sealants visible?

 Sealants are usually clear, white or slightly tinted and are placed only on the chewing surface of molars or back teeth. They can be seen upon close examination, but are not visible when a child smiles or talks.

 How long do sealants last?

 One sealant application can last for up to 10 years, but they should be checked during regular visits to the dental office.

 How effective are sealants and fluoride?

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children who receive sealants in school-based programs have 60 percent fewer instances of decay for up to five years after the sealants are applied. Regular fluoride treatments can prevent up to 70% of cavities from starting on the side surfaces and in between the teeth.

 School-based sealant programs provide sealants to children unlikely to receive them otherwise. According to the CDC, children of racial and ethnic minorities have about three times more untreated tooth decay.

 Who is eligible for the sealant program?

Sealants are typically placed on the 6-year and 12-year molars, soon after they erupt. The Health Department’s dental program will screen children in the second and sixth grades, the time when the molars typically erupt.

 Schools must request the sealant program. Only those schools in Boone, Campbell, Kenton and Grant counties with at least 35 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunches may participate.

 In order for a child to have his/her teeth sealed, he/she must bring back a signed consent form from a parent or guardian.

 What is the dentist’s role in the sealant program?

 A local dentist examines the children’s teeth for signs of decay on the first morning of the sealant program. He or she will then dictate which teeth need to be sealed to the hygienist, and the hygienist will then place the sealants.

 Dentists who participate in the program must accept Medicaid. Each dentist is asked to adopt three schools. The dentists typically spend two hours in each school, and dentists are asked to commit approximately six hours of their time.

 What kind of equipment is used?

 The sealant program has portable equipment like what you would find in a typical dentist’s office, including a chair, light, autoclave, air/water and suction machine.

 The equipment is transported to each school, and set up where space permits on the first day of sealants. The equipment is left in place until the sealants have been finished.

 All equipment and instruments are properly disinfected and sterilized by the dental assistant. Sterilization of instruments will take place in a dry heat sterilizer.

 How is the sealant program funded?

 Funding comes from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, local health department funds and Medicaid reimbursement, as well as fees. The Health Department bills Medicaid for those who are eligible and there is no further cost to those families.

 Children who are not covered by Medicaid--whether they have private dental insurance or not – by law have to be charged the same amount that Medicaid reimburses. However, all fees can slide downward based on family income and size. No child is denied treatment because of an inability to pay. Providing these necessary services is the Health Department’s highest priority regardless of insurance coverage  or finances. 

 How many children have dental sealants?

 In a 2001 survey, the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the University of Kentucky found that 30 percent of third and sixth graders in the northern region (Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Grant, Carroll, Owen, Pendleton, Bracken, Robertson, Mason, Fleming and Lewis counties) had dental sealants. Many of these children may have received the sealants from their private dentist.

In the state of Kentucky, 29.1 percent of third and sixth graders had sealants.

 Where can I get more information on dental health or the dental sealant program?

 If you are interested in learning more about the dental sealant and prevention program, please contact Linda Poynter at 859.341.4264, ext. 2035.

 For more information about dental health online, visit the following sites:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Oral Health Resources
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Association of Public Health Dentistry
American Dental Association
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Kentucky Oral Health Program