Dental Sealants in Adolescents (Age 12 to 19)

Dental sealants in adolescent’s teeth have increased from the early 1970s until the latest (1999-2004) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

Table 1 presents sealant prevalence for adolescents aged 12–19 years and for selected subgroups.

Prevalence (Table 1)

• 38% of adolescents 12 to 19 have dental sealants.
• Older adolescents, Black and Hispanic adolescents, and those living in families with lower incomes have fewer sealants.

Table 1: Adolescents, Percent with Sealants in Permanent Teeth

Prevalence of sealants in permanent teeth among youths 12–19 years of age, by selected characteristics:
United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004

Data Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been an important source of information on oral health and dental care in the United States since the early 1970s.  Tables 1 through 4 present the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding dental sealants in adolescents.