School-Based Sealant Programs

The Public Health Dental Program’s Sealing Sunny Smiles Across Florida initiative is part of a statewide oral health plan to promote evidence-based prevention strategies in order to achieve optimal oral health for all Floridians.

County Health Departments (CHDs) administer School-Based Sealant Programs (S-BSPs) which offer preventive dental services to schools, Head Start Centers, Early Head Start Centers, Women, Infants, and Children Centers, and Early Learning Centers. Preventive services provided can include but not limited to screenings or assessments, cleanings, oral health instructions, fluoride varnish applications, dental sealants, and referrals to a dental home. S-BSPs focus on children with a high risk of cavities and those less likely to access dental care. Most programs function in Title I schools with a high free or reduced lunch population.

Currently, Florida Department of Health CHDs provide S-BSP services in 55 counties.

Dental sealants are the most effective way of preventing tooth decay, or cavities, in permanent molars, where more than 80% of decay occurs in the permanent teeth of children. The deep grooves and fissures of the molars allow decay to occur deep within the tooth structure where fluoride is less effective. Sealants are thin coatings applied to the tooth surface, which can help stop this decay from happening. 

Programs that deliver sealants to children at high risk for tooth decay save money. Each tooth sealed saves more than $11 in dental treatment costs.

The Public Health Dental Program promotes the early placement of sealants on permanent first and second molars to effectively prevent tooth decay.  Additional information regarding S-BSPs is available below and by contacting the Public Health Dental Program at Dental@FLHealth.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions