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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3072.7: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 4

Abstract #99487

School Based/school linked Dental Sealant Programs in 13 Funded States

Sherry Williams, MPH and René Lavinghouze, MA. Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS F-10, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-5205, swilliams8@cdc.gov

Objectives: Assess the status of school based/school linked dental sealant programs in states funded by a CDC cooperative agreement to build an oral health infrastructure.

Setting: Schools targeted for sealant programs based on children participating in the free and reduced lunch programs in 12 states and one territory.

Methods: States/territories funded by CDC were surveyed for the presence of school-based/school-linked dental sealant programs. Assessment elements included: longevity and scope of program, personnel and funding, schools and grades targeted, evaluation tools, and developed protocols for sealant placement.

Results: Nine states and one territory indicated they had a program ranging from 2 to 18 years (mean 10.4 years). All programs targeted schools with at least 50% of children in Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) programs. These programs reached between 10 - 100% of the FRL population with an average of 41.6%. Factors identified that contributed to program strengths included: diverse funding, commitment from contractors, state sealant coordinator, surveillance, and community partnerships. Factors identified that inhibit programs success included: no focus on reporting and evaluation, collaborating across public/private entities, no follow up with child, no referral mechanism, geographic distance, no state dental director, and no standing orders from dentists for dental hygienists to administer sealants.

Conclusion: Most states funded by CDC do have a dental sealant program. The implementation of these programs varied from state to state and appears to reach 41.6% of children requiring dental sealants. These findings will help to facilitate issues raised and addressed by the CDC expert sealant panel.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Oral Health, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Oral Health Poster Session I

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA