Premium
Developing a Sealant Program: the Massachusetts Approach *
Author(s) -
Callanen Virginia A.,
Weintraub Jane A.,
French Donna P.,
Connolly Gregory N.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1986.tb03128.x
Subject(s) - sealant , reimbursement , curriculum , medicine , medical education , public health , health care , dentistry , nursing , psychology , political science , pedagogy , chemistry , organic chemistry , law
This paper describes the program structure and strategies being used by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to promote the utilization of sealants. The program design includes four components: clinical demonstration, consumer education, professional education, and reimbursement. Eighteen Massachusetts neighborhood health centers and six local health departments are participating in the clinical demonstration component. Since March 1984, dental personnel from these sites have applied sealants to 4,398 schoolchildren. The promotional theme “Save Teeth: Seal Them” has been incorporated into brochures designed to increase knowledge and awareness of consumers. Curriculum materials have been developed to educate dentists and dental hygienists to apply sealants and understand the rationale and scientific basis for their use. Since January 1984, 18 sealant educational sessions have been conducted statewide for 630 dental providers. Information is being presented to third‐party carriers, some of whom have subsequently adopted a policy to include reimbursement for sealants.