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Contact:
William
F.
Maas,
DDS,
MPH
CDC,
NCCDPHP,
Division
of
Oral
Health
770-488-6054;
WMaas@cdc.gov
Community
Guide
Contact:
Brad
Myers
CDC,
EPO,
DPRAM,
Community
Guide
Branch
770-488-8189
BMyers@cdc.gov
School-Based
or
School-Linked
Pit
and
Fissure
Sealant
Delivery
Programs
are
Effective
in
Reducing
Tooth
Decay
in
Children
and
Adolescents
Despite
substantial
improvements
in
reducing
tooth
decay
(dental
caries)
in
the
United
States,
tooth
decay
remains
one
of
the
most
common
childhood
diseases.
It
can
result
in
considerable
burden,
especially
among
poor
children
and
adolescents
aged
5
to
17
years,
who
are
almost
twice
as
likely
to
have
untreated
decay
as
other
children.
Fluoride
use
has
been
credited
with
much
of
the
decline
in
dental
decay
over
the
past
four
decades
but
has
limited
effectiveness
on
the
chewing
surfaces
(pits
and
fissures)
of
teeth.
Today,
most
decay
is
found
in
the
pits
and
fissures
of
molar
teeth.
Use
of
dental
sealants
–
a
plastic
coating
applied
to
the
chewing
surfaces
–
can
prevent
decay
on
these
surfaces.
A
systematic
review
of
published
studies,
conducted
on
behalf
of
the
Task
Force
on
Community
Preventive
Services
by
a
team
of
experts,
found
that
school-based
and
school-linked
dental
sealant
delivery
programs
are
effective
in
reducing
tooth
decay
in
children
and
adolescents.
Based
on
strong
evidence
of
effectiveness,
the
Task
Force
recommends
that
these
programs
be
included
as
part
of
a
comprehensive
population-based
strategy
to
prevent
or
control
dental
caries
in
communities
Background
on
School-based
or
School-linked
Pit
and
Fissure
Sealant
Delivery
Programs
For
the
purposes
of
the
Community
Guide
review,
these
programs
were
defined
are
programs
that
provide
direct
delivery
of
dental
sealants
to
children
in
school-based
or
school-linked
(clinic
or
private
practice)
settings.
Findings
from
the
Systematic
Review
•
The
systematic
review
included
10
studies
that
compared
programs
where
sealants
were
applied
versus
those
where
no
sealants
were
applied;
children
were
examined
for
tooth
decay
from
2
to
5
years
later.
•
The
median
decrease
in
occlusal
caries
(i.e.,
those
on
the
horizontal
surfaces
of
molars
and
pre-molars)
in
posterior
teeth
among
children
aged
6
to
17years
was
60%.
•
Application
of
sealants
in
school-based
or
school-linked
programs
was
found
to
be
effective
among
children
of
varying
socioeconomic
status
and
risk
of
decay.
Publications:
•
MMWR/Recommendations
and
Reports
–
November
30,
2001/
Vol.
50/
No.RR-21.
A
report
on
findings.
•
American
Journal
of
Preventive
Medicine
–
Am
J
Prev
Med
2002;23(1S),
21-54.
A
repot
on
evidence
and
findings.
The
Guide
to
Community
Preventive
Services
(Community
Guide)
provides
recommendations
on
population-based
interventions
to
promote
health
and
to
prevent
disease,
injury,
disability,
and
premature
death,
appropriate
for
use
by
communities
and
healthcare
systems.
For
more
information
about
the
Community
Guide
(including
links
to
publications
and
a
variety
of
resources)
see
www.thecommunityguide.org
and
for
more
information
about
oral
health
see
www.thecommunityguide.org/oral/
This
information
is
in
the
public
domain.
Copying
and
disseminating
freely
is
encouraged.
However,
citation
to
source
is
appreciated.
Updated
–
December
26,
2002
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