Be Smart & Seal Them! is a school-based program to provide dental sealants to second grade students. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surface of molars to prevent tooth decay. School nurses assist with on-site planning, securing parental consent, and follow-up with parents of children who need additional care. Volunteer dentists and dental hygienists perform a dental screening, place sealants on students’ teeth, and provide referrals for children in need of additional care. Sealants are provided by partner groups, including KIND (Kids in Need of Dentistry), Rocky Mountain Youth, Denver Health, El Paso County, and Valley RE-1 School District. The program also includes classroom presentations on oral hygiene and presentations on oral health for parents.

The goal of the Be Smart & Seal Them! program is to provide dental sealants proven to prevent tooth decay to second grade students.

In a single school year, the intervention provided over 1,200 dental screenings and nearly 1,000 sealants to second grade students in 36 Denver schools. Eight hundred third grade students received additional services. The program has expanded to include schools across Colorado.