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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Corinna S. Culler, RDH, MPH, Miguel Tabares, DDS, and Michelle Henshaw, DDS, MPH. Health Policy & Health Services Research, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, 715 Albany Street, 560, Boston, MA 02118, 617-638-4918, cculler@bu.edu

Background: School-based dental sealant programs are an effective means of reducing dental decay and eliminating oral health disparities among children. To ensure effectiveness, sealant retention rates must be high. Retention was compared for 2 consecutive years of a second grade sealant program where different materials and techniques were used. Methods: During the fall of 2004, sealants were placed on 699 first molars using a 3-step procedure including etch, drying agent, and sealant. During the fall of 2005, 656 sealants were placed on a second group using a 2-step procedure, including a self-etching adhesive and a new sealant material. Providers, equipment, and location were identical for both years. Providers noted advantages and disadvantages for each method. Results: Retention is assessed 6 months following sealant placement. In the 2004 group, 90% of the sealants were completely intact and 10% partially or completely lost. Preliminary data indicates that the 2-step procedure and new material results in less retention, but numbers are too small to be significant. In June of 2006, complete data will be available. At that time, retention rates for the two materials and techniques will be compared. Conclusions: Most studies of sealant retention occur in laboratory settings or in ideal clinical situations. It is important to discover how products perform in a school-based, public health setting. While a different set of students participated each year, the populations are similar in age, race/ethnicity, and income. Results will be instructive on the performance of these two products in non-traditional settings.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session participants will be able to

• Describe the pros and cons of using each of two different dental sealant techniques in a school based setting.
• Identify which dental sealant placement method provides the best retention rates in a public health setting.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered