Dental sealants in children’s teeth have increased from the early 1970s until the latest (1999-2004) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.
Table 1 presents sealant prevalence for children aged 6–11 years and for selected subgroups.
Prevalence
- 30% of children 6 to 11 have dental sealants.
- Younger children, Black and Hispanic children, and those living in families with lower incomes have fewer sealants
Table 1: Children, Percent with Sealants in Permanent Teeth
Prevalence of sealants in permanent teeth among youths 6–11 years of age, by selected characteristics:
United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004
| Characteristic | Percent of children with dental sealants |
|---|---|
| Age | |
| 6 to 8 years |
20.28 |
| 9 to 11 years |
40.12 |
| Sex | |
| Male |
28.81 |
| Female |
32.42 |
| Race and Ethnicity |
|
| White, non-Hispanic |
36.06 |
| Black, non-Hispanic |
21.26 |
| Mexican American |
24.22 |
| Poverty Status (Income compared to Federal Poverty Level) | |
| Less than 100% |
20.94 |
| 100% to 199% |
23.38 |
| Greater than 200% |
40.06 |
|
Overall |
30.48 |
Data Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been an important source of information on oral health and dental care in the United States since the early 1970s. Tables 1 through 4 present the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding dental sealants in children.