Dental Sealant Program

The Licking County Health Department provides free dental screenings, oral health education, and dental sealants to students. Sealants seal the tops of molars, reducing the risk of cavities.

Dental sealants are a plastic material placed on the pits and fissures of the chewing surfaces of teeth; sealants cover up to 90 percent of the places where decay occurs in school children’s teeth. Sealants prevent tooth decay by creating a barrier between a tooth and decay-causing bacteria. Sealants also stop cavities from growing and can prevent the need for expensive fillings. The combination of sealants and fluoride has the potential to nearly eliminate tooth decay in school age children.

Schools are identified on the basis of the percentage of students enrolled in the Free/Reduced Lunch program. Using portable equipment, a complete dental operatory is set up at a school. Children are examined and then sealants are placed on permanent molars. A dental sealant is a plastic substance that is painted in the pits and grooves of molars to protect teeth from decay. The program is offered to 2nd grade students because they have newly erupted first permanent molars and 6th grade students who have gotten their second (12 year) molars.

School Districts Participating