The cost of sealant application in a state dental disease prevention program.

A school-based pit-and-fissure sealant activity was developed by the Dental Health Section, Health Services Division, New Mexico Health and Environment Department as an adjunct to an ongoing dental disease prevention program. The sealants were applied by dental hygienist and dental assistant teams using a "four-handed" technic. The teams took portable dental equipment directly into the schools to apply the sealants to newly erupted permanent teeth. The costs to seal 15,281 teeth in 3,272 children were calculated to be $1.59 per tooth, and $7.41 per child. The average time for sealant application was nine minutes, 24.6 seconds per child. The one-year retention rate was 83 percent complete retention and 10 percent partial retention.