The Use of Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are painted on the biting surfaces of the back teeth.  Sealants block food and decay-causing bacteria from entering the narrow grooves of the teeth where decay is most likely to occur. While dental sealants have repeatedly been shown to reduce tooth decay on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, recent studies show only 43 percent of third-grade schoolchildren in Ohio have one or more sealants on their permanent teeth.  The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) promotes the use of sealants by providing grant funds to support school-based dental sealant programs (S-BDSP) and by sharing the most current recommendations on the use of sealants.

In Clinical Settings

In November 2006, the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs convened an expert panel to review current relevant scientific evidence and make recommendations on the clinical use of dental sealants.  The panel's report was published in the March 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association and is available online.

In Public Health Programs

Dental sealants were introduced in the 1970s; however, relatively few dentists in private practices provided sealants to their patients. Children from low-income families who lacked access to private dental care were even less likely to receive sealants. As a means to provide sealants to low-income children, school-based dental sealant programs were developed.  The first program in Ohio started in the mid-1980s.

During the early years of development and expansion, little was known about the characteristics of this unique approach to providing sealants.  A national survey was conducted in 1992-93 to describe school-based and school-linked public health sealant programs.  A report summarizing the survey findings is available.

ODH currently provides grant funds for 16 S-BDSPs. These programs are targeted to schools with 40 percent or more of the students eligible for the state's Free and Reduced Price Meals Program and/or the schools are in school districts that participated in 2008 and have a median income less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($31,800 for a family of four in 2008.) A map of the ODH- and locally-funded dental sealant programs shows that the programs are predominately located in southeastern Ohio and in major metropolitan areas. These locales have high percentages of children from low-income families and limited access to dental care.

Following an assessment by a dentist, teams of dental hygienists and dental assistants place sealants on children's teeth. Children are assessed for other dental problems as well, and parents are notified that follow-up care is needed. Often, school personnel assist families in securing follow-up dental care. Students are rescreened the following school year to ensure the integrity of the sealants previously placed and to place sealants on newly erupted teeth. To learn more about Ohio's public health sealant programs, please view a one-page synopsis or frequently asked questions.

The School-based Dental Sealant Program (S-BDSP) Manual provides information and clearly states expectations of, and standards for, ODH-funded S-BDSPs.  ODH-funded S-BDSPs must comply with the requirements in this manual.

Seal America: The Prevention Invention, 2nd Edition is an online manual that provides practical guidance for new programs, and may help existing programs looking to improve their operations.

Last Updated:  03/09/09

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