Brian Nicholson, Deseret News SALT LAKE CITY — Plastic sealants
used to be applied to the teeth of nearly half of all children
during routine dental visits at a young age, but new survey
results reveal that fewer Utah children are receiving the
protective coating treatment. And while sealant use has gone
down over the past five years, children in certain populations
are getting fewer cavities. Still, the state's oral health
director believes some underserved populations could use better
access to the preventive dental procedure. "Sealants are
certainly underutilized," said Dr. Steven J. Steed. "And we see
them as having great potential." A statewide oral health survey,
conducted by the Utah Department of Health in 2010, found that
just 36 percent of 8-year-olds had sealants, compared to 45
percent in 2005, when the last survey was completed. Steed said
awareness of the available procedure has dropped over the years,
resulting in fewer dentists using the thin plastic coating that
has been proven to decrease de