School-Based Dental Prevention

About the Program

The SBDPP (School-Based Dental Prevention Program) is a statewide, year round dental prevention program funded by Tennessee and administered by the Department of Health, Oral Health Services.

The SBDPP is a preventive dental service for K-8 and include, but are not limited to:

• Screenings
• Oral health education
• Oral evaluations
• Dental sealants
• Fluoride varnish
• Snd referral for care

Schools with approximately 50% free and reduced lunch populations are targeted for these services, but all children in these schools are eligible for the program.

These services are provided on-site at schools using portable dental equipment, with no billing for any services. We report urgent needs to Tenncare. This approach fosters close collaboration with teachers, school nurses, and office staff.

Did you know…?

• Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, occurring 5 times more frequently than asthma and 7 times more frequently than hay fever.
• More than 1/2 of all children between the ages of 5 & 9 have at least one cavity or filling.
• By the age of 17, that number increases to 78%.
• More than 51 Million School hours are lost each year due to dental related illness.
• Low income children are half as likely to have visited the dentist in the past 12 months.
• Tooth decay is found in more than 40% of children by the time they reach kindergarten.

What are Sealants?

Dental sealants are highly effective in the prevention of dental decay. A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth-premolars and molars. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, but toothbrush bristles cannot reach down into the grooves and depressions. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas by “sealing out” plaque and food.