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Important Facts for Dental Sealants: Children Age 6-9

Definition

Percentage of children aged 6-9 years with a clinical confirmation of dental sealants applied to one or more permanent molars.

Numerator

Number of children aged 6-9 years who participated in the school dental health survey with a clinical confirmation of dental sealants applied to one or more permanent molars.

Denominator

Number of children aged 6-9 years who participated in the school dental health survey.

Why Is This Important?

A large amount of a child's dental decay is found on the occlusal or biting surface of the tooth. Occlusal sealants form a barrier to protect this part of the tooth. The occlusal surface of teeth with deep pits and fissures are difficult to clean and therefore this part of the tooth is more susceptible to decay. For more information visit [http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/faqs/sealants.htm CDC - Dental Sealants] website.

Healthy People Objective OH-12.2:

Increase the proportion of children aged 6 to 9 years who have received dental sealants on one or more of their permanent first molar teeth
U.S. target: 28.1 percent

How Are We Doing?

Sealants have proven to be an effective decay preventive measure for children when placed on the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The most recent survey (2015) indicates that 44.9% of 6-9-year-old children have at least one sealant on their first permanent molar.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

With 44.9% if the 6-9 year-old children having a sealant, Utah ranks higher than the Healthy People 2020 goal of 28.1%.

What Is Being Done?

Dental insurance coverage for sealants influences their use. CHIP and Medicaid cover sealants to promote dental health in those at-risk populations. Local health departments and institutions with dental hygiene education programs conduct sealant placement projects for low-income children. Sealant for Smiles is benefiting children in Salt Lake, Davis, and Tooele County.

Health Program Information

For other oral health related reports, click on the Health Topics tab, then click on Dental, then click on the + to the right of Publications.
Oral Health Program, Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, Utah Department of Health and Human Services | Phone: 801-201-9462 | Email: OPCRH@utah.gov | Website: ruralhealth.utah.gov/oral-health-program
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH website (https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 21 November 2024 12:04:41 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health website: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/ ".

Content updated: Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:27:17 MDT