The Role of Dental Hygienist in Placing Dental Sealant

Dental Sealants
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Value of Dental Sealants
Introduction
In dental practice, sealants are widely used in preventing caries. Several cost/benefit analysis studies have shown these tools to be efficacious in averting dental caries, which is one of the most chronic infections among children. Olmsted et al (2015) have linked the use of sealants as part of public health programs to the reduction in the cost of health care and the number of school days lost among schooling children. Besides, such programs significantly improve the children’s quality of life (QoL). In their study, Olmsted and colleagues have presented a report on the findings of a larger and polyphasic research that has considered the impact of public health programs on the QoL and quality of care (QoC) among children in low income and underserved populations in rural areas. Results indicate that such programs have the potential to avert dental caries, increase sealant retention, and improve QoC among underserved communities thus leading to improved oral health outcomes (Olmsted et al., 2015). While several studies recognize the role of dental hygienists in placing dental sealants with an aid of technology in practice, there is a heated debate on the necessity of performing dental sealants for patient care.
The Value of the Dental Hygienist in Placing Dental Sealants
Dental caries during early childhood are often associated with impaired child development and growth, pain, missed school days, as well as other negative impacts on QoL (Olmsted et al., 2015). Besides, school-going children with dental caries suffer from self-esteem, impaired speech, and overall academic performance. Although some children have increased risks for developing caries, simple actions such as a dental hygienist in ether community or public health care setting placing sealants with an aid of technology can significantly improve QoC and health outcomes. Community and public health programs can help to enhance dental care among children from socioeconomically and demographically disadvantaged populations (Villalta et al., 2019). The Surgeon General has indicated that these populations have continued to be plagued by ...