Skip to content
HCPS BOE Portable Communication Devices Policy Effective 2024-2025SYLEARN MORE

Home - Harford County Public Schools

Harford County Dental Sealant Program Celebrates Success
New Harford County Dental Sealant Program Celebrates Success During National Children’s Dental Health Month

On February 25, George D. Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale welcomed the Harford County Health Department to celebrate the success of a new school-based dental sealant program. The event brought together State health department officials; oral health professionals; Harford County Council members, including Council President Richard Slutzky; and a group of second and third grade students who will receive oral health screenings and have dental sealants applied to their teeth. A dental sealant is a thin protective plastic coating that is painted to the chewing surface of the back teeth. Cavities most often occur in children’s back teeth.

The new Harford County program began providing free dental sealants to second and third grade students in seven Title I schools in September of 2014. Since then, the program has applied 769 sealants for 229 students. The program also offers fluoride varnish treatments and has provided oral health education to nearly 600 children.

While tooth decay is 100 percent preventable, it remains the single-most common childhood disease nationwide. It can cause extreme pain, school absences, difficulty concentrating, and poor appearance—problems that greatly affect a child's quality of life and ability to succeed. Dental sealants have been shown to be an evidence-based and highly effective strategy for reducing cavities in children and preventing childhood tooth decay.

Each February, National Children's Dental Health Month aims to raise awareness about the importance of children’s oral health. Many parents and caregivers are unaware of how important oral health is to overall health and the actions necessary to ensure optimum oral health for their child. Developing good oral health habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.