Evaluating the Effectiveness of School-Based Dental Sealant Programs in At-Risk Populations: Implications for Preventive and Community Dentistry
- Dr seyam waris, Mbbs mc mirpur
- Dr Muhammad Ibrahim Kousar, Azad Jammu and Kashmir medical college muzaffarbad
- Dr anas sharif, Ajk mc Muzaffarbad
- Dr Hina Munawar, Ajk medical college Muzaffarabad
- Dr Asifa Ismail, Azad Jammu and Kashmir medical college muzaffarbad
- Dr Zoha Tasawar, Saidu Medical College
Abstract
Background: Community dentists have important functions in public health, working primarily field preventive actions with a view to better oral conditions of the population. Despite advancements in the prevention of dental caries, persistent inequalities among disadvantaged populations demonstrate a continued need for health promotion efforts such as school-based dental sealant programs.
Aim: To assess the effectiveness of school-based dental sealant programs in preventing caries among at-risk populations, primarily defined as low-income or underserved children.
Methods: Randomised controlled trial Participants/setting: Juveniles were recruited in schools of the targeted communities. The intervention consisted of dental sealants applied to qualifying teeth, along with oral health education. Dental caries incidence (follow-up period) was analysed using standardised dental examinations, and statistical methods were applied to test differences between intervention/ control groups.
Results: Children who received the dental sealants had a lower incidence of subsequent caries when compared to those without dental sealants, reflecting the preventive benefits conferred by this measure. The effects were even more varied when the analyses focused on differences in outcomes between different demographic groups with respect to age and socioeconomic status.
Conclusion: SBDS programmes are an important preventive strategy in community dentistry which can be used to reduce the levels of caries burden among high-risk populations. The results highlight the importance of including those programs in public health strategies to advance oral equity and enhance dental outcomes over time particularly among vulnerable communities.
Keywords: Community Dentistry, Dental Sealants, Preventive Strategies, At-Risk Populations, Oral Health, Public Health Policy.