USA - North Dakota Department of health advocates dental sealants
Department of health advocates dental sealants
By KATINA TENGESDAL, Staff Writer ktengesdal@minotdailynews.com
The North Dakota Department of Health has been looking into the feasibility of providing dental sealants to school-age children who don't have ready access to dental care. According to the department, sealants have been shown to reduce tooth decay by more than 70 percent.
"A lot of kids don't have access to a dentist, and if they do, they don't have the financial ability to pay for it. Access to care is so vitally important in North Dakota, and we're very short in that, both in the urban and rural areas," said Robyn Stearns, oral health prevention manager for the department of health.
"Our goal is to improve the access to care for all North Dakota children. It would be great to be able to have all children receive sealants if they're needed, to prevent tooth decay," Stearns said.
The department of health sponsored a dental sealant pilot project as a part of an oral health grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The project was held in Richardton in early May with the volunteer efforts of Dr. Gregory Johnson and staff of the Richardton Dental Clinic, with cooperation from Janine Olson, principal of Taylor-Richardton elementary school.
Johnson and his staff screened and applied dental sealants to nine second-grade students from the elementary school.
"We're trying to collect the data, now, and we're thinking about choosing a public health unit to go in an do sealants. We haven't decided on the part of the state we're looking at yet. Once we gather all those facts, then we'll start looking for funding," Stearns said.
Stearns says the department hopes to eventually start a sealant program for school-age children. The department currently has a fluoride varnish program in place through public health units in the state as one dental decay prevention measure.
"If we could get the sealant program, too, that would be great. The thing with sealants is, they're easy to do, they're inexpensive, and they last for years. If we can prevent decay in school-age children, it's a huge thing for overall health," Stearns said.
Stearns said dental decay has been a particular concern in recent years.
"There's more poor diet habits, and a lot of kids aren't taught to brush and floss early enough. It all plays a huge part in decay," Stearns said.
"It (dental decay) is prevalent out there. We see a lot of children with it. I think the main thing is, prevention is key, especially early onset prevention," she added.
By KATINA TENGESDAL, Staff Writer ktengesdal@minotdailynews.com
The North Dakota Department of Health has been looking into the feasibility of providing dental sealants to school-age children who don't have ready access to dental care. According to the department, sealants have been shown to reduce tooth decay by more than 70 percent.
"A lot of kids don't have access to a dentist, and if they do, they don't have the financial ability to pay for it. Access to care is so vitally important in North Dakota, and we're very short in that, both in the urban and rural areas," said Robyn Stearns, oral health prevention manager for the department of health.
"Our goal is to improve the access to care for all North Dakota children. It would be great to be able to have all children receive sealants if they're needed, to prevent tooth decay," Stearns said.
The department of health sponsored a dental sealant pilot project as a part of an oral health grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The project was held in Richardton in early May with the volunteer efforts of Dr. Gregory Johnson and staff of the Richardton Dental Clinic, with cooperation from Janine Olson, principal of Taylor-Richardton elementary school.
Johnson and his staff screened and applied dental sealants to nine second-grade students from the elementary school.
"We're trying to collect the data, now, and we're thinking about choosing a public health unit to go in an do sealants. We haven't decided on the part of the state we're looking at yet. Once we gather all those facts, then we'll start looking for funding," Stearns said.
Stearns says the department hopes to eventually start a sealant program for school-age children. The department currently has a fluoride varnish program in place through public health units in the state as one dental decay prevention measure.
"If we could get the sealant program, too, that would be great. The thing with sealants is, they're easy to do, they're inexpensive, and they last for years. If we can prevent decay in school-age children, it's a huge thing for overall health," Stearns said.
Stearns said dental decay has been a particular concern in recent years.
"There's more poor diet habits, and a lot of kids aren't taught to brush and floss early enough. It all plays a huge part in decay," Stearns said.
"It (dental decay) is prevalent out there. We see a lot of children with it. I think the main thing is, prevention is key, especially early onset prevention," she added.
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