School sealant programs

Doing so ensures quality control and enables programs to demonstrate their impact in improving health — demonstrating why SSPs are an investment that pays off. State licensing boards and legislatures should evaluate dental practice acts or other existing rules that restrict the use of appropriately trained and licensed professionals to apply sealants. Rules or laws should be changed to allow children to receive oral health services in the most cost-effective manner without compromising quality or safety.

States can facilitate the expansion of SSPs by simplifying the Medicaid application and credentialing process for all licensed dental professionals.

Managed care organizations should be required to abide by the same payment and contracting requirements that govern the state Medicaid program. SSPs should develop a communication plan that identifies the messages, communication vehicles and other details to guide their efforts to engage school staff, families, children and the community.

Raising awareness of oral health and explaining what sealants are can help improve parental consent rates. State Medicaid agencies should adopt new reimbursement codes for case management services and educate dental providers on how to use these codes appropriately.

Case management can help ensure that children with urgent dental needs get the treatment they need. The program requires a 10' x 14' space for 1 to 11 days, depending on the size of the school.

Eligible schools will be served as funding becomes available. Parent permission forms are mailed to participating schools in mid-August. If additional forms are needed, please download and print the language needed. The parent permission forms are stapled on top of the parent fact sheets distributed to parents. The Teacher Information Sheet is for teachers whose classrooms will be involved. Download the Program Brochure. Local programs are also serving Oregon schools. There are now 21 school dental sealant programs certified by the state.

The OHA program transitions OHA-served schools to local programs when the programs become certified and demonstrate they have the capacity to serve additional schools. In , the PEW Center on the States recognized Oregon as one of three states who received the maximum possible points for school dental sealant programs full report Oregon report card.

In , the Children's Dental Health Project pg. This can be done in dental offices or using portable dental equipment in community settings like a school. However, this effective intervention still remains underused. Less than half of children aged 6 to 11 years have dental sealants. School sealant programs are a highly effective way to deliver sealants to children who are less likely to receive private dental care.

Programs that deliver sealants to children at high risk for tooth decay also save money. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

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