Increasing Dental Sealant Rates: The Case for Quality Improvement

Since its introduction in 2015, the HRSA UDS Sealant Measure has shown steady increases in the percentage of children in health centers receiving this evidence-based preventive procedure. In 2015, the UDS measure was 42.2% reflecting the national sealant prevalence of 41.7%. Through the process of measurement accountability, supported by targeted training and technical assistance rooted in quality improvement methodology, the sealant placement rate increased to 56.8% in 2019. COVID-19 introduced new challenges to health center dental programs including clinic closures, pauses to school-based programs, the introduction of new clinical procedures to minimize aerosol production, and workforce burnout. The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) is in a unique position to describe the implementation of this national-level quality improvement measure across 1000+ dental practices. The role of quality improvement in identifying strategies to increase sealant rates and the impact of COVID-19 on health center sealants rates will be discussed.