Sealant therapy as a HEDIS measurement

The most common chronic illness facing America's youth today is dental caries. The significant component of which is pit and fissure caries which, if left untreated, can result in costly definitive dental services, emergency room care, and hospital admissions for management of dental alveolar infections, continued need for retreatment, malocclusion, and tooth loss, all of which can negatively impact self-esteem and performance in school or the work place. Such repercussions strongly support the need for sealant therapy, which is an effective and cost efficient preventative measure. With the placement of dental sealant, the incidence of caries is reduced to over 50% and the estimated 10 year survival probability of sealants is 87%. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that Health Effectiveness Data Information Set (HEDIS) should incorporate sealant therapy of first and second adult molars at targeted ages of 5-8 and 10-12 years, as it would benefit both oral and psychological wellness as well as prove cost-effective for the healthcare system.