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Sealing Molars Improves the Life of Every Student

SMILES School-based Preventive Program annually benefits over 9,250 children in area elementary schools where at least 50% of the students are on the free and reduced lunch program. In the schools served, the average percentage of kids on the free or reduced lunch program is 87%. Children in first, second and third grades receive oral health education and a new toothbrush. Second and third graders are screened by a dental professional and a note is sent home to parents about the child’s oral health condition. With signed parental permission, sealants are applied to healthy first molars at the school campus using portable dental equipment.

Does it Work?

Severe decay rates dropped from 16% in 1994 to 9% in 2010, cutting decay in half from what it was prior to the SMILES program. In a two-year research project, called Wanted: Solutions for America, the Pew Partnership for Civic Change found that after SMILES was started in designated schools, children demonstrated a significantly higher oral health knowledge than students who did not have the program. Teachers in the study judged both classroom performance and classroom behavior to be significantly poorer among children in need of immediate dental care as compared to those with only routine dental needs.

Each school year over 6,400 decay-preventing sealants are placed for more than 2,200 children. Services are free to the children, but provide $363,800 of value in care to the community. Research shows that SMILES cost effectively improves oral health and overall health, and has the potential to improve school performance.