School dental programs
Program basics
- Partnerships between dental practices and schools that provide K-12 students with dental care
- May offer sealant treatment and other preventative dental care
- Provided by dental professionals, often from federally qualified health centers via mobile vans as well as other private and public entities
- Often serving school districts with high proportions of low-income children and districts in rural areas
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
?
Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
Target population
All school-aged children
Program cost
Not available
Implementation locations
- Nationwide
Dates active
Not available
Outcomes and impact
- Lower incidence of cavities
- Sealant treatments reduced future incidence of cavities
Keys to successful implementation
- Note: This content is under review
- Programs should prioritize safety of children in a school environment and during medical procedures
- Integrating oral health care curricula into schooling and/or programs like HeadStart can improve outcomes
- Programs should identify and prioritize school districts that are in greater need and ensure minimal loss of class time for students
- Partnerships with local health officials and community health workers can improve case management, referrals, enrollment, and access to other dental and health care services