Sealant use in public and private insurance programs

Dental sealants are a safe and efficacious method for preventing caries in pits and fissures. An increase in sealant use has been observed in the NHANES III survey. However this increase still accounts for less than one fifth of children aged 5-17 having sealants on their teeth. Reimbursement and coverage of sealants by public and private insurance programs have lagged behind the widespread acceptance of this methodology by the profession. Medicaid preventive services are poorly used by patients and the profession: and the inclusion of sealants in traditional, indemnity, fee-for-service commercial plans has been inconsistent. Managed care programs include dental sealants, but lack financial incentives to increase their use.