Pediatric Sealants Underutilized in Many States
Pediatric Sealants Underutilized in Many States Pediatric Sealants Underutilized in Many States A report compiled by the Pew Center on the States finds that most states are doing a poor job of preventing dental caries and reducing health care
Pediatric Sealants Underutilized in Many States
A report compiled by the Pew Center on the States finds that most states are doing a poor job of preventing dental caries and reducing health care costs by not providing low-income children with dental sealants—a proven method of preventing tooth decay.
Despite 45 years of evidence supporting their efficacy in reducing caries, dental sealants are tragically underutilized. The health benefits gained from disease prevention are significant—as is the reduction in health care expenditures, because the cost of placing a sealant is significantly less than providing restorative care. According to the Pew Center, annual Medicaid spending for dental care is projected to increase from $8 billion in 2010 to $21 billion by 2020.
The report, “Falling Short: Most States Lag on Dental Sealants,” graded all 50 states and the District of Columbia on how well each provides disadvantaged children with dental sealants. Four indicators were used to assess each state’s efforts: presence of sealant programs in high-need schools; allowing dental hygienists to place sealants in school-based programs without requiring a dentist’s exam; collecting and submitting data regularly on the oral health of schoolchildren; and meeting the national health objective regarding sealant usage. While five states (North Dakota, Wisconsin, Maine, New Hampshire, and Alaska) received an A grade, the majority of states received a grade of C or lower—with Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and Hawaii earning an F.
The report notes that approximately two-thirds of states do not offer sealant programs in schools that have a majority of low-income students, and five states do not offer any sealant programs in high-need schools. Another barrier to implementation of sealant programs is limiting the ability of dental hygienists to apply sealants. The report found that 19 states, as well as the District of Columbia, still require a dentist to examine a child before sealants can be placed.
