What is the Clean and Seal Dental Program?
The Clean and Seal Dental Program Public Health Dental Program provides preventive oral hygiene services performed by a licensed public health dental hygienist for Massachusetts students in low-income school districts. We will soon be treating seniors and developmentally disabled adults in facilities such as nursing homes, healthcare facilities, hospitals, medical facilities, and community health centers.
How much does the Clean and Seal Dental Program cost?
The program is free to parents/caregivers, and schools as well as to facilities serving seniors and developmentally disabled adults. MassHealth may be billed.
How long will each child be away from their classroom learning or program activities?
The dental assessment takes about 2 minutes and the sealant and fluoride application takes no more than 15-20 minutes. Students return to the classroom in under ½ hour.
Is a child who is already receiving regular dental care eligible to participate?
Yes, any child with parent/caregiver consent is eligible to receive the preventive dental services provided by the Clean and Seal Dental Program.
If a child has a dental home they are welcome to participate.
If you do have a dental home, please check YES on the Consent Form (see details below), so our program doesn’t interfere with your child’s routine dental visits (6-month dental prophylaxis/ dental cleaning). However, fluoride varnish and sealants can be done on children who see their regular dentists.
Look for these questions on the Consent Form: Does your child see a dentist for regular checkups? and Does your child get a cleaning every 6 months?
Who is eligible to receive this treatment?
Our efforts are two-fold.
What is a dental screening?
Dental screening is a safe and simple way to identify dental concerns. It refers to visual inspection of a child’s oral health in a school setting followed by making parents aware of their child’s current oral health status and treatment needs.
What is fluoride varnish?
Fluoride varnish is a dental treatment that can help prevent tooth decay, slow it down, or stop it from getting worse. Fluoride varnish is made with fluoride, a mineral that can strengthen tooth enamel (outer coating on teeth).
What is a dental sealant?
Dental Sealants fill up the small grooves and pits on your teeth that are hard to clean, making a smooth, easy-to-clean surface. The sealants are put onto teeth to help prevent tooth decay.
What do the categories in the student report form mean?
___No obvious decay; x-rays were not taken.
___Areas of possible decay exist. Please have your child checked by a dentist in the near future.
___Large areas of possible decay exist. Please have your child checked by a dentist as soon as possible.
___There is an immediate need for dental treatment due to pain and/or infection.
___Sealants were not needed at this visit.
Who can I talk to if my child received a referral by the Clean and Seal Dental Program?
Our contact information will be provided and can be seen at the bottom part of the parents letter.
Where can I find a dentist in my area?
Students with decay will be sent home with a list of all the Dentist Offices in your area that accept MassHealth. You can view a list here »
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