What is the Oral Health Florida Sealant Action Team?
The Oral Health Florida Sealant Action Team is comprised of
members of the statewide Oral Health Coalition that are interested in implementing
or improving school based dental sealant programs across the state. In 2001, a
systematic review conducted by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services,
a group of independent professional experts, found that school based
dental sealant programs are effective in reducing dental caries in children by
65%. Also in 2001, the National Institutes of Health held a Consensus
Development Conference which involved evidence-based reviews by experts which
concluded that “pit and fissure sealants have been demonstrated to be effective
in the primary prevention of caries.” In 2008 the Cochrane Collaboration
concluded that “sealing is a recommended procedure to prevent caries of the
occlusal surfaces of permanent molars.” The American Dental Association also
concluded in 2008 that “placement of resin-based sealants on the permanent
molars of children and adolescents is effective for caries reduction.” There is much evidence to suggest that
sealants and school based sealant programs, in conjunction with community water
fluoridation, are an important and effective public health approach to reduce
dental caries in children especially those that are at highest risk for dental
cavities. There are currently 92 members which represent a network of County
Health Departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Volunteer Networks,
Dental Schools, Dental Hygiene Schools and individuals. These individuals are
all interested in improving the oral health of all children in the State of
Florida, especially the most disadvantaged ones.
What does the Sealant Action Team do?
The Oral Health Florida Sealant Action Team conducts
bimonthly conference calls with featured guest speakers to discuss issues,
updates, and best practices of all Florida School-Based Sealant Programs and
national programs. In addition to bimonthly conference calls, the Sealant
Action Team provides updated resources and information to improve existing
School-Based Sealant Programs and implement additional programs throughout the
state and across agencies. This includes technical assistance regarding data
collection tools, portable dental equipment, and sealant application. Data
collection is complete yearly to show the increase of services and programs
across the state and across agencies. The Sealant Action Team also meets face-to-face
at the Annual Oral Health Florida Educational Conference.
What actions have been taken recently by the Sealant Action
Team?
