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Certification for School Dental Sealant Programs

Required Certification for Local School Dental Sealant Programs 

Oregon Administrative Rules, OAR 333-028 (Revised Effective August 1, 2024)

Senate Bill 660 (pdf), passed by the Oregon State Legislature in 2015, requires local school dental sealant programs to be certified by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) before dental sealants can be provided in a school setting. Certification provides schools with assurance that a minimum set of standards will be met while delivering services.

Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 431A.725 authorizes the OHA Public Health Division, Oral Health Program to adopt administrative rules to provide guidance for local school dental sealant programs on the requirements for certification; application process for certification and recertification; monitoring and collecting data from programs; and decertification or provisional certification for programs out of compliance.

Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Chapter 333 Division 028 contains the final rule text language for certification. The OARs were originally effective on January 29, 2016. The OARs were last amended on August 1, 2024 to remove COVID-19 certification requirements with the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency. Quality assurance measures were also updated, and the verification process for certified school dental sealant programs was clarified.

OHA has developed several guidance documents for programs to follow as referenced in the certification rules. 

 

Mandatory Certification Program

  • Mandatory certification as outlined in Senate Bill 660 began in the 2016-17 school year.
  • Once a school dental sealant program is certified, the certification status is effective for the certification year of August 1 - July 31.
  • Certified programs will need to continually maintain their list of schools being served and requested throughout the certification year.
  • OHA will conduct on-site verification reviews of each certified program.
  • A certified program will need to renew its certification no later than July 15 of each year.
  • Before applying for renewal certification, a certified program must submit all school data reports and aggregate program data to OHA.

Before Applying for Certification

A representative responsible for coordinating and implementing the school dental sealant program must attend a one-time certification training provided by the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Oral Health Program.

If the school sealant program experiences personnel changes that impact the representative responsible for coordinating and implementing the program, then a new representative must attend the one-time certification training before applying for recertification.

Templates

Application Form for Initial Certification

STEP 1: Email the OHA Oral Health Program at oral.health@oha.oregon.gov to request a user name and password for your organization to access the online application form. Please provide the name of your organization in the email.

  • Each organization will have its own unique log-in information.
  • Programs will then have the ability to update information on the application form throughout the school year regardless of personnel changes.

STEP 2: Download the user guide (pdf) that will show you how to complete the online application form step-by-step.

STEP 3: Once you have an organization user name and password, you can access the online application form. Please note the application works best in Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer.

If you need any other assistance, please contact the Oral Health Program at oral.health@oha.oregon.gov or (971) 412-0531.

Application Form for Renewal Certification

STEP 1: Download the user guide (pdf) that will show you how to complete the online recertification application form step-by-step.

STEP 2: Using the same organization user name and password provided during the initial certification process, you can access the online application form. Please note the application works best in Chrome, Safari, or Internet Explorer.

You will not be able to access your certification form for the 2019-20 school year. If you need to make any changes to it or need any other assistance, please contact the Oral Health Program at oral.health@oha.oregon.gov or (971) 412-0531.

Webinars & Training Resources

Webinar on School Data Submission, Sealant Retention and Infection Prevention & Control Guidelines
On May 4, 2023, OHA hosted a webinar covering individual schools served and program end-of-year data reporting, sealant retention process recommendations, and current infection prevention and control guidelines. For those who were unable to attend, you may view a recording of the webinar and presentation slides (pdf).

Webinar on Site Visit Tool and School Data Report Template 
On August 24, 2022, OHA hosted a webinar reviewing the newly updated renewal certification timeline, verification site visit tool, and school data report template. For those who were unable to attend, you mayview a recording of the webinar and presentation slides (pdf). 

Health Equity Training Series for School Dental Sealant Programs (SDSPs)
OHA hosted a virtual five-part health equity training series that had an oral health school-delivery focus. Subject matter experts provided participants with practical, important knowledge and skills to interact with communities, schools, families and students. If you have any questions about this series, please contact the Oral Health Program at oral.health@oha.oregon.gov or (971) 412-0531.

          Session 1 - April 19, 2022 from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM 
          Health equity subject matter experts addressed challenges to achieving optimal health outcomes via Oregon’s SDSPs.
          Topics included: Building a better understanding of anti-racism; Creating dialogue vs. debate; Identifying intent vs. impact
          For those who were unable to attend, you mayview a recording of the webinar.

          Session 2 - May 10, 2022 from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
          Topics included: An overview of racism; Bias in healthcare and education
          For those who were unable to attend, you mayview a recording of the webinar.

          Session 3 - May 24, 2022 from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
          Topics included: LGBTQIA+/gender inclusivity. This session was not recorded.

Webinar: Review of the COVID-19 Modified Technique for Placing Glass Ionomer Sealants 
On January 26, 2022, OHA hosted a webinar by GC America to provide a review of the COVID-19 modified technique for glass ionomer dental sealants. Topics of the review included: using cavity conditioner; determining the best moisture conditions for the teeth to be sealed; and parameters for placing glass ionomer sealants around school students’ eating schedules. For those who were unable to attend, you mayview a recording of the webinar.

Webinar on the Efficacy of Glass Ionomer Sealants & COVID-19 Modified Technique 
On July 28, 2020, OHA hosted a webinar by GC America to provide information on the bonding, retention and release of fluoride in glass ionomer dental  sealant material. The presenters demonstrated a technique that does not generate aerosols and is an acceptable alternative for glass ionomer dental sealant placement during the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who were unable to attend, you may view a recording of the webinar.

Video Showing Application of a Resin Sealant Material
OHA produced a video that demonstrates the use of Clinpro unfilled sealant material. Pleaseview a recording of the video.

Required One-Time Certification Training

As part of the certification process, a representative responsible for coordinating and implementing a school dental sealant program must attend the one-time certification training provided by OHA. If your program has had a personnel change to the representative responsible for coordinating the program, then this new person must attend the certification training before applying for recertification.

The training is free, and participants will learn how to deliver evidence-based, high quality oral health and dental sealant services in a school-based setting. The training is on the administrative side of operating a school dental sealant program.

Next Session

The last certification training was held virtually in April 2023. Certification trainings will take place periodically throughout the school year if needed. Please contact the Oral Health Program at oral.health@oha.oregon.gov or (971) 412-0531 if you need to take the one-time certification training.

 

Training Topics

  • State and Federal Updates
  • Research and Evidence-Based Practiceslogo
  • Scope of Practice and Utilizing Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants
  • Health Equity, Cultural Responsiveness, and Health Literacy
  • Antidiscrimination Laws and Rules
  • Recruiting and Working with Schools
  • Providing Services in a School Setting
  • Equipment and Supplies Needed
  • Protocols for Safe, Quality Care
  • Data Collection and Reporting
  • Evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement
  • Certification Requirements and Processes

Required Clinical Training

As part of the certification process, a school dental sealant program must provide a clinical training every year to all providers rendering care within their scope of practice in a school setting.

This requirement may be met by one of these options:

  1. The school sealant program can develop and implement its own training; OR
  2. The program may send its providers to an annual training provided by the OHA Oral Health Program.

The clinical training must include these topics:

  • Determining the Need for and Appropriateness of Sealants
  • Manufacturer's Guidelines for Sealant Placement
  • Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines
  • Quality Assessment of the Program, such as Performance Benchmarks and Standards
  • Confidentiality and Security Guidelines, including HIPAA and FERPA
  • Health Equity
  • Internal Policies and Procedures
Programs attending the OHA Clinical Training should also still meet with all of their providers to go over internal policies and procedures.

2024 OHA Clinical Training for School Dental Sealant Programs

The OHA Clinical Training for the 2024-25 school year is a series of pre-recorded videos covering the required training topics. The training materials and recordings will be available August 6, 2024.

You may access the full playlist HERE. The videos should be viewed in this order (if preferred, you can click on the individual video links below):

1. Introductions, Research and Best Practices (30:37)

2. State & Federal Updates (49:57)

3. Cultural Competency and Health Equity (1:04:55)

4. Dental Sealant Materials (28:07)

5. Triaging (20:15)

6. Determining the Need for Sealants (9:22)

7. Information Sharing and Privacy (40:56)

8. Infection Prevention and Control (26:41)

9. Higher Aerosol Generating Procedure Walkthrough (7:49)

10. Lower Aerosol Generating Procedure Walkthrough (5:46)

 

Participants viewing the recordings are eligible for continuing education (CE) credits after completing a quiz with a score of 80% or higher and course evaluation for the clinical training. CE credits will be available until September 30, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact the Oral Health Program at oral.health@oha.oregon.gov or (971) 412-0531.