By Kelsi Matylewicz/ Benco Dental Social Media Intern

Mary Otto, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist recently discussed a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts, which illustrates that many states are slow in efforts to get the quick and cost-effective treatment of dental sealants to children who are often at the highest risk for cavities.

She mentions that the report grades all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their sealant program efforts.

“Since the past report card, only 12 states have improved their grades, while seven states have fallen behind. Most have failed to reach even half of 8-year-olds with this preventive service,” says Otto.

The procedure for dental sealants costs one-third of the price of filling a cavity. https://www.vistadental.com/preventative/dental-sealants/

Dental sealants act as a barrier to prevent cavities and aid in the protection of children’s teeth from tooth decay. They are a plastic material usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the first and second permanent molars.

The procedure for dental sealants costs one-third of the price of filling a cavity.

Pew concluded their study by stating that “States are driving up health care costs for families and taxpayers by not doing enough to use dental sealants.”

For Otto’s story, visit: healthjournalism.org/blog/2015/05/report-states-fail-to-provide-cost-saving-dental-procedure-to-children/