Public health sealant delivery programs: optimal delivery and the cost of practice acts.
BACKGROUND
The greatest unmet health need for US children is dental care. School-based sealant programs target low-income, high-risk second graders and are effective in preventing caries for as long as the sealant material remains in place. However, it is not clear whether such programs make efficient use of available resources and staffing.


METHODS
The authors used discrete event simulation to determine the optimal combinations of staffing levels and sealant stations for school-based sealant programs. Using data provided by state programs and the literature, they modeled different-sized programs under different practice act constraints and determined times and associated costs. A detailed economic analysis was done for Wisconsin.


RESULTS
For general, direct, or indirect supervision, it is optimal to have only 1 dentist or no dentists for no supervision. For general supervision, it is optimal to have the dentist and dental assistant to come on separate days to screen. The cost savings for adding an assistant and chair averaged over all of the program sizes and travel distances ranged from 4.50% (SE= 0.89) to 10.94% (SE= 0.56). Significant cost savings also result from reducing the required supervision level (8.72% [SE = 1.61] to 29.96% [SE= 1.67]). The cost of the practice act for the state of Wisconsin for 2003 was from USD 83,041 to USD 346,156, significantly more than its annual budget.


CONCLUSIONS
States could save money by relaxing restrictions on the type of personnel who can deliver sealants in public health settings and by productivity gains through proper consideration of staffing. The savings could be used to improve access to sealant programs and further reduce disparities in oral health.
Scherrer
Christina R
CR
School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0205, USA.
Griffin
Paul M
PM
Swann
Julie L
JL
D002648:Child; D003363:Cost Control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans; D017059:Models, Econometric; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000191:economics*; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014922:Wisconsin; D000078329:Workforce
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants