EC Dental Science

Dental Caries continues to be the most common chronic disease affecting school aged children in the United States. School based dental sealant programs have been effective in preventing dental caries in school aged children. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify strategies to improve the participation of elementary school children in a School-Based Sealant Program. Five focus groups were conducted with parents and/or guardians of students who attend the schools that participate in the school-based sealant program. The focus group discussions were audio taped and the main findings were identified and documented in a standardized template. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The focus groups provided an insight into parents’ opinions and perceptions of dental needs and barriers to receiving dental services at school. The perceived strategies to promote increased participation in the school-based program included the following themes: communication, marketing, incentives, and parent involvement. Parents identified several barriers that prevented them from participating in the program and suggested changes to the program to increase participation.

Keywords: Child and Adolescent Health; Dental Health; School-Based Clinics; School Health Services; Dental Caries; Pit and Fissure Sealants

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