The CDC report indicates the majority of children still do not have dental sealants. The dental sealants are ultimately used to protect teeth from dental cavities.
Key takeaways:
- Dental sealants are highly effective in preventing cavities in the permanent back teeth of children.
- Children from low income families are at high risk of teeth cavities but are less likely to have dental sealants compared to those from higher income families.
- Providing dental sealants through school-based programs to the low-income children has been projected to save up to $300 million in dental treatment costs.
State officials play an important role in increasing children’s access to school-based dental sealant programs (SPSP) in their states. Officials can target school-based sealant programs to the areas of greatest need in their state.
