MMWR Vol. 65 / Early Release ► Vital Signs: Dental Sealant Use and Untreated Tooth Decay Among U.S. School-Aged Children | MMWR

MMWR Early Release Vol. 65, Early Release October 18, 2016

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Vital Signs: Dental Sealant Use and Untreated Tooth Decay Among U.S. School-Aged Children 

Susan O. Griffin, PhD; Liang Wei, MS; Barbara F. Gooch, DMD; et al.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65(Early Release)

School-based dental sealant programs deliver a highly effective intervention to prevent tooth decay in children who might not receive regular dental care; benefits of these programs exceed their costs when they target children at high risk for tooth decay. CDC used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate current prevalences of sealant use and untreated tooth decay among children aged 6–11 years, by income level. From 1999–2004 to 2011–2014, sealant use prevalence increased among low- and higher-income children. Among low-income children, the mean number of decayed and filled first molars was almost three times higher among children without sealants than among children with sealants.

Vital Signs: Dental Sealant Use and Untreated Tooth Decay Among U.S. School-Aged Children | MMWR