Increase in utilization of dental sealants.

AIM The purpose of this review is to explore how to increase utilization of dental sealants to reach the national 50% sealant objective as stated in the Healthy People 2010 document. BACKGROUND Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. A simple, cost-effective preventive measure to manage this disease is through sealant application. REVIEW Although dental sealants are effective in reducing the risk of having dental decay, their rate of utilization among children and adolescents is below the objective set forth by the Healthy People 2010 document. This is related to the lack of public awareness, patient education, and inadequate reimbursement for sealants served by third-party insurers. CONCLUSION Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. Dental sealants are a simple, cost-effective preventive measure to manage this disease. In order to meet the national 50% sealant objective of the Healthy People 2010 document, public awareness and the education of consumers about the benefit of having dental sealants must be improved. Third-party insurers must improve the benefits for subscribers seeking dental sealant services. Using these approaches, the utilization of dental sealants will improve the oral health among the next generation of Americans.