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A School-Based Dental Program Evaluation: Comparison to the Massachusetts Statewide Survey.
Corinna S Culler1, Milton Kotelchuck2, Eugene Declercq3
1Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, 715 Albany Street, 560, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02118.
The Journal of School Health
|September 7, 2017
Summary
School-based dental programs in Chelsea reduced severe treatment needs and increased dental sealants in high-risk students. While untreated decay remained similar to statewide levels, these programs show promise for improving oral health in underserved communities.
Area of Science:
- Community Dentistry
- Public Health Interventions
- Pediatric Oral Health
Background:
- School-based dental programs aim to reduce barriers to care in high-risk communities.
- This study evaluates a program in Chelsea, MA, serving a low-income, minority population.
- Oral health outcomes were compared to a statewide assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based dental program in a high-risk urban community.
- To compare the oral health of participating students to statewide benchmarks.
- To assess the impact of the program on untreated decay, treatment needs, and sealant prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Standardized dental screenings for kindergarten, third, and sixth graders.
- Bivariate analysis of outcomes, stratified by grade and income.
- Comparison of Chelsea students' oral health data with Massachusetts oral health assessment data.
Main Results:
- Chelsea students had higher rates of untreated decay and severe treatment need than the statewide average.
- Fewer Chelsea third graders exhibited severe treatment need, and a higher proportion had dental sealants.
- No significant income-based disparities were observed in treatment need or sealant prevalence within the Chelsea program.
Conclusions:
- School-based programs did not lower overall decay but did reduce severe treatment needs through referrals.
- These programs effectively increase dental sealant prevalence in high-risk populations.
- Findings support the expansion of full-service school-based dental programs in similar communities.
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