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Evaluation of a school-based sealant program in New York State
J V Kumar1, M E Dávila, E L Green
1Bureau of Dental Health, New York State Department of Health, Albany, USA.
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice : JPHMP
|April 7, 1997
Summary
This study assessed a school-based dental sealant program. The findings indicate the program effectively identifies children who benefit most from sealants, ensuring high-risk molars are protected.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health Dentistry
- Preventive Dentistry
Background:
- Dental caries remains a significant public health issue in children.
- Dental sealants are a proven preventive measure against occlusal caries.
- School-based sealant programs offer a practical approach to caries prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted school-based dental sealant program.
- To compare the survival probability of sealed high-risk first molars with unsealed low-risk molars.
- To assess the accuracy of the program's protocol for identifying children who would benefit from sealants.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1,122 children in a school-based sealant program was studied.
- Survival probabilities of sealed high-risk first molar tooth sites were compared to unsealed low-risk tooth sites.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare survival rates between the groups.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was observed in survival probabilities between sealed high-risk molars and unsealed low-risk molars.
- The sealant program demonstrated comparable outcomes for both high-risk sealed and low-risk unsealed teeth.
- This suggests the applied protocol is effective in a school setting.
Conclusions:
- The targeted dental sealant program protocol is satisfactory for identifying children who can benefit most.
- School-based sealant programs can effectively manage caries risk in pediatric populations.
- The program's approach ensures appropriate allocation of preventive dental resources.