Sealants Can Be Like Vaccines For Teeth — But Not Enough Kids Are Getting Them
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is pushing to change that.
Los Angeles Times:
More Than Half Of U.S. Kids Don't Get Dental Sealants, And The CDC Wants Schools To Change That
How can elementary schools save nearly $50 per student? By bringing in dental professionals to put sealants on their molars, federal health officials said Tuesday. If that doesn’t sound like an education-related problem, consider this: Cavities that go untreated cause kids to do worse in school. (Kaplan, 10/18)
KPCC:
Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities, But Many Poor Kids Don't Get Them
Dental sealants are an effective and inexpensive way to prevent kids from getting cavities, but many low-income kids aren't getting them, the Centers for Disease Control says in a report released Tuesday. To close this gap, the CDC recommends that state and local officials develop school-based programs to provide dental sealants to poor kids and those who live in rural areas. The agency provides 21 state public health departments with funding to implement such programs. California is among the 29 states that don't receive this money, but Los Angeles Unified School District officials say they do offer dental sealants as part of their dental care program. (Plevin, 10/18)