Best Practices and Innovative Approaches to Strengthen School-Based Dental Sealant Programs

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children and can negatively affect their overall health, well-being, and academic success. School-based dental sealant programs can help by providing a simple and effective way to prevent tooth decay, particularly among children who lack access to regular oral health care. These programs, however, are underutilized nationwide.  

Join CareQuest Institute, the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD), and the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) for a webinar that will explore the topic and updated School-Based Dental Sealant Program Best Practice Approach Report. The 2022 report highlights key steps for building and improving effective programs, including the use of evidence-based practices, clinical quality measures, and innovative design. Our expert panel will share insights from the report and offer practical guidance for building and improving a program to promote children's oral health.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the key findings and recommendations from the School-Based Dental Sealant Program Best Practices Approach Report produced by ASTDD and OHRC.  
• Summarize evidence-based practices and innovative approaches to strengthen school-based dental sealant programs.
• Discuss the considerations for implementing a school-based dental sealant program, including the use of clinical quality measures and innovation in program design, and provide suggestions for improving existing programs.
• Analyze the role of school-based dental sealant programs in helping to achieve the Healthy People 2030 objectives and promoting health equity.

Moderator

Steve Geiermann, DDS, Chair, Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors Best Practices Committee

Presenters

Beth Lowe, MPH, BSDH, Health Education Specialist, National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center, Georgetown University  

Shailee Gupta, DDS, MPH, Director of Dental Programs, St. David's Foundation  

Karen Phillips, MPH, RDH, EPP, School Oral Health Programs Coordinator at Oregon Health Authority  

This webinar will be recorded.

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health designates this activity for 1 continuing education credit.
This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

All participating instructors in this program have disclosed that they do not have any financial arrangement or affiliation with any commercial supporter, commercial products and/or provider of commercial services mentioned in this program/activity.