School-based Sealant Programs | Comprehensive School-based Oral Health Program |
Oral Health Promotion Activities

School-based Sealant Programs

Boston University School of Dental Medicine (BUSDM), through its Division of Community Health Programs (CHP), currently manages three city wide sealant programs and has sealant programs in 52 additional schools throughout Massachusetts. In the 2006-07 academic year, these programs provided 5000 sealants for over 1400 children (includes all Smart Smiles in Boston schools as well as schools in Chelsea, Framingham, Natick, and Lawrence). The number of children served and sealants placed by CHP staff in its three city wide sealant programs and 29 additional schools is 3500 sealants placed on almost 1100 children.

• Chelsea Sealant Program: For the seventh year, BUSDM provided a city wide sealant program for the second graders in Chelsea. During the past school year, the program placed 650 dental sealants and applied two applications of fluoride varnish for 205 second grade students at the Mary C. Burke Elementary School Complex in Chelsea.
• Framingham Dental Sealant Program (SEAL Framingham): Funded by the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, CHP continues to provide a town wide school-based dental sealant program for second graders within all 8 public elementary schools. During the 2006-2007 school year, 253 grade 2 children were screened and 632 sealants were placed on 199 children. In grade 3, 179 children were rescreened and resealed when necessary.
• Lawrence Sealant Program: In partnership with the Lawrence Public Schools, this sealant program includes classroom dental health education and dental screenings to the second and third grade students in the Arlington School.  During this academic year approximately 110 children received oral health education, 57 second graders were screened, and 42 students had 126 dental sealants placed. 
• Natick Dental Sealant Program (SEAL Natick): Funded by the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, CHP continues to provide a town wide school-based dental sealant program for second graders within all 5 public elementary schools. During the 2006-2007 school year, 88 grade 2 children were screened and 233 sealants were placed on 70 children.  In grade 3, 70 children were rescreened and resealed when necessary. 
• Orchard Gardens Sealant Program: For the fourth consecutive year, BUSDM implemented a school-linked dental sealant program.  CHP provided dental screening and education for the second graders in the neighboring Boston public school.  The entire second grade class of 60 children was invited to a field trip to BUSDM.  As part of the activities, 41 children received 120 sealants applied by pre and postdoctoral dental students.
• Smart Smiles in Boston Public Schools:As part of this collaborative effort, in the school year ‘06-‘07 BUSDM provided education for over 3200 children, and approximately 1900 sealants were placed for over 550 second grade children in 28 schools in Boston, including:  Aligheri, Bates, Beethoven, Blackstone, Clap, E. Greenwood, Eliot, Ellis, Emerson, Gardner, Garfield, Grew, Hennigan, Higginson, Holland, Hurley, Kilmer, Lyndon, Mary Lyons, Mason, McKay, Mozart, Ohrenberger, Orchard Gardens, Roosevelt, Russell, Sumner, and Winthrop.