1.2 Rationale and Evidence for Programs
 Initially, some dentists had misgivings about dental sealants, but over time most have adopted sealant use. The resistance may have been due in part to the quality of the early UV light-polymerized sealants, which are no longer in use. In addition, some dentists continue to believe that there is significant risk associated with placing sealants over undiagnosed dental caries, despite extensive evidence to the contrary.
Risk for Dental Caries
Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of childhood. In 2004–2005, approximately 55 percent of third graders in Ohio had experienced decayed, missing, or filled teeth, and almost half (26 percent) of those had untreated dental caries. Some children are at higher risk for dental caries than others. Risk factors for dental caries are described below.
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