Oral Health
Tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States. About 1 in 5 (20%) children aged 5–11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth. The percentage of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years with untreated tooth decay is twice as high for children from low-income families (25%) compared with children from higher-income households (12%).1
Poor oral health can have a detrimental effect on children’s quality of life, their performance at school, and their success later in life.2 Tooth decay is preventable and ensuring that students have the preventive oral health services they need in school is important in helping them stay healthy and ready to learn. Dental sealants prevent tooth decay and also stop cavities from growing—they result in a large reduction in tooth decay among school-aged children aged 5–16 years.3
School sealant programs provide sealants to children in a school setting, and school-linked programs screen the children in school and refer them to private dental practices or public dental clinics that place the sealants. These programs have been shown to increase the number of children who receive sealants at school, and are especially important for reaching children from low-income families who are less likely to receive private dental care. Programs that offer oral health care to students should:
- Use evidence-based practices in “Preventing Dental Caries Through School-Based Sealant Programs: Updated Recommendations and Reviews of Evidence” [PDF 115.6KB] and CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Healthcare Settings.
- Voice support for policies that allow the use of dental personnel to the top of their licensure when dentists are not required to be on site, as per state or local regulations.
- Develop referral networks with dental practitioners in the community.