New CDC Vital Signs: Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities

Children and teenagers are most prone to dental cavities. If left untreated, cavities can lead to problems such as pain and infection.

Key takeaways:

• Dental sealants are highly effective in preventing cavities in the permanent back teeth of children.
• Children from low=income families are at high risk of teeth cavities but are less likely to have dental sealants compared to those from higher income families.
• Providing dental sealants through school-based programs to the low-income children has been projected to save up to $300 million in dental treatment costs.

State officials play an important role in increasing children’s access to school-based dental sealant programs (SPSP) in their states. Officials can target school-based sealant programs to the areas of greatest need in their state.

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