The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63666

Lynn Ann Bethel, RDH, BSDH, MPH, Dental Hygiene Program, Forsyth Dental Hygiene Program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 179 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 508-262-5200 ext218, lynn.bethel@mcp.edu

OBJECTIVE: SEAL is a school-based preventive dental program whose goal is to improve the oral health of low-income, minority school children attending Boston Public Schools. METHODS: This school prevention program includes interactive, multi-lingual oral health education, dental screenings and the application of sealants utilizing dental hygiene students. One of SEAL's objectives is to serve at least 60% of the target population, so as to surpass the Healthy People 2010 national objective of 50%. Under the supervision of a licensed dental hygienist with public health training, this on-going program is implemented entirely by second-year dental hygiene students using three portable dental units. Dental screenings are provided by a local health center dentist. Guidance is provided by the Boston Public Health Commission-Office of Oral Health. RESULTS: 102(68.9%) children of the target population received parental consent to participate in SEAL,(66 second graders and 36 third graders). 97(95%)children with consent participated in the screening. Of those screened, 56(88.8%)second graders needed sealants, as did 32(94%) third graders. Each child received an average of 3.2 sealants and about thirty children were seen each school day. CONCLUSION: The SEAL School-based Prevention Program, which utilizes dental hygiene students, not only provides a significant preventive service to a high-risk, underserved child population, but also exposes and involves developing health professionals to an effective public health prevention program.

Learning Objectives:

Following the presentation, the participant will be able to:
• Design a school-based oral health prevention program.
• Recognize the benefit of utilizing dental hygiene students in the implementation of school-based oral health programs.
• Indicate the value of the dental hygiene student to increase access to preventive services in underserved, high-risk populations.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.