Sealant status and factors associated with sealant presence among children in Milwaukee, WI

To determine the percent of school-children aged 6-14 years with sealants placed in their permanent molars in the City of Milwaukee. 2) To describe factors associated with sealant presence among these children. 3) To describe differences, if any, among ethnic majority and minority groups. Twelve public schools agreed to participate in this project. After consent forms were obtained, 1,234 dental exams were performed. A 15-item pretested questionnaire was given to each child to take home for the parent(s) to complete. Response rate was 60 percent (N = 742). Data were analyzed using frequencies and Chi-Square tests (P-value < 0.05). Only 9.6 percent of the sample had sealants on their permanent molars. Variables that were found associated with children more likely to have sealants included: gender (female children more likely than males); children with a recent dental exam; children having a regular dentist; parents having heard about sealants before this study; parents' correct knowledge regarding the purpose of sealants; higher level of parents' education; higher parents' total annual income; ethnicity (Caucasian children more likely than Hispanic, African American, American Indian, or Asian children); and age (children in the older group, 10-14 years, more likely than children in the younger group, 6-9 years). Percent of school-children with sealants on their permanent molars in the city of Milwaukee is low. Efforts are needed to increase the knowledge of sealants by the general public as well as to promote sealant use by dentists in both private practice and public health programs, especially for minority children.