School-based dental sealant programme: report and assessment.

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence, distribution, and impact of dental caries are of major public-health concern in South Africa. Evidence-based oral health care recommends fissure sealant programmes as a viable preventive strategy to address the currently high dental caries rates among children.

OBJECTIVES

This paper reports on a school-based sealant programme carried out in a lower socio-economic community in Durban in an attempt to improve the oral health status of the sample.

METHODS

Caries assessment was conducted on 119 children (n=119) prior to the placement of unfilled resin-based sealants on sound permanent molar and premolar teeth using photopolymerisation.

RESULTS

The results indicate a high prevalence in dental caries rates, specifically on primary teeth (80%) among Grade 1 learners. An evaluation showed that in 86% of Grade 1 learners, sealants remained intact six months after placement. Ninety percent (90%) of Grade 2 learners, 99% of Grade 3 learners; 97% of Grade 4 children also showed success in fissure sealant retention.

DISCUSSION

The findings suggest that community-based fissure sealant programmes should advantageously be directed to Grade 1 and Grade 2 learners (aged 6-7 years) to ensure early intervention, thereby preventing/delaying the onset of the caries process.

CONCLUSION

A sealant programme is an important public health intervention that should be considered in oral health policy discussions.