Variations in Second Molar Dental Sealant Prevalence among Adolescents, United States 2011-2016
Abstract
Background: Dental sealants are an effective intervention to prevent dental caries and have been shown to be cost-effective. As such, increasing the prevalence of dental sealants among children and adolescents is an objective of Healthy People 2030. However, research has primarily focused on first permanent molars (1M) because state and national interventions have predominantly been implemented in elementary school settings prior to the eruption of the second permanent molars (2M). Therefore, there is a lack of understanding of the prevalence of 2M sealants.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of 2M sealants and examine its relationship with race/ethnicity and income.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 2M sealants among adolescents, 12-19 years, was conducted using data collected from three cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adjusted logistic regression modeling was utilized to calculate the odds ratio of having a 2M sealant, in the presence and absence of the influence of 1M sealants.
Results: The total prevalence of 2M sealants among adolescents between 2011-2016 was 35%. When examining the adjusted odds of 2M sealant without the influence of 1M sealants, non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic Asian and other race/ethnicities were at significantly lower odds of having a 2M sealants compared to non-Hispanic white adolescents. Additionally, adolescents whose family income was between 200-399% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were at 40% lower odds of having a 2M sealant compared to those whose family income was 400% or greater FPL. However, when accounting for the influence of 1M sealant status there were no longer significant differences by race/ethnicity or by income.
Conclusion: Despite evidence of their effectiveness, the uptake of 2M dental sealants is low. Increasing access to and utilization of 2M sealants has the potential to reduce racial and economic disparities in oral health.
Keywords
Dental caries, dental sealants, oral health, adolescents
Variations in Second Molar Dental Sealant Prevalence among Adolescents, United States 2011-2016
Background: Dental sealants are an effective intervention to prevent dental caries and have been shown to be cost-effective. As such, increasing the prevalence of dental sealants among children and adolescents is an objective of Healthy People 2030. However, research has primarily focused on first permanent molars (1M) because state and national interventions have predominantly been implemented in elementary school settings prior to the eruption of the second permanent molars (2M). Therefore, there is a lack of understanding of the prevalence of 2M sealants.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of 2M sealants and examine its relationship with race/ethnicity and income.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 2M sealants among adolescents, 12-19 years, was conducted using data collected from three cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adjusted logistic regression modeling was utilized to calculate the odds ratio of having a 2M sealant, in the presence and absence of the influence of 1M sealants.
Results: The total prevalence of 2M sealants among adolescents between 2011-2016 was 35%. When examining the adjusted odds of 2M sealant without the influence of 1M sealants, non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic Asian and other race/ethnicities were at significantly lower odds of having a 2M sealants compared to non-Hispanic white adolescents. Additionally, adolescents whose family income was between 200-399% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were at 40% lower odds of having a 2M sealant compared to those whose family income was 400% or greater FPL. However, when accounting for the influence of 1M sealant status there were no longer significant differences by race/ethnicity or by income.
Conclusion: Despite evidence of their effectiveness, the uptake of 2M dental sealants is low. Increasing access to and utilization of 2M sealants has the potential to reduce racial and economic disparities in oral health.
