1967
Dr. Michael Buonocore with Richard Glena, research assistant, at the Eastman Dental Dispensary.
Reproduced with permission from the Bibby Library.
- Dental sealants developed
Background
In 1967, Dr. Michael Buonocore and his colleagues at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, NY, published the first paper on the successful application of dental sealants to pit-and-fissure surfaces of teeth. Focusing on the development of materials to prevent occlusal caries in posterior teeth instead of improving existing filling materials, Dr. Buonocore’s work was based on research on the preparation of the enamel surface and the development of an organic plastic chemical sealant that could be polymerized in the oral cavity.
Impact
Dr. Buonocore’s seminal research marked the start of a major revolution in the practice of preventive dentistry. Since the release of his research, numerous studies have demonstrated that the application of dental sealants is a safe and effective long-term method to prevent dental caries (tooth decay) in the pits and fissures of posterior teeth. During a National Institutes of Health consensus-development conference held in 1983, the consensus panel confirmed these conclusions.
Dental sealants are used widely in private practice as well as in community- and school-based oral health programs.
Sources
Bohannan HM ed. 1984. Proceedings: National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference—Dental Sealants in the Prevention of Tooth Decay. Journal of Dental Education. 48(2, Suppl.):3–134.
Handelman SL, Shey Z. 1996. Michael Buonocore and Eastman Dental Center: A historical perspective on sealants. Journal of Dental Research. 75(1):529–534.
Workshop on guidelines for sealant use: Preface and recommendations. 1995. Journal of Public Health Dentistry. 55(5):263–273.
- Title V of the Social Security Act amended
Background
Between 1967 and 1989, Congress enacted a number of amendments to Title V of the Social Security Act, adding requirements to work closely with Medicaid on several activities, including assisting with the coordination of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program.
Impact
The amendments to Title V of the Social Security Act mandated states to offer oral health services to all children and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid, as specified under EPSDT. Under the program, all children and adolescents under age 21 who are eligible for Medicaid must be informed of the availability of EPSDT. The amendment also requires state Medicaid programs to pay for restorative treatment identified during EPSDT screenings.
Sources
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. No date. Medicaid Dental Coverage [webpage].
Health Resources and Services Administration. 2024. Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment [webpage].
Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 2000. Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act: A Guide to the Provision of the Federal Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. Rockville, MD: Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Kinlaw DH. 2001. Access to dental care: A historical review of Medicaid eligibility growth and dental productivity decline. Journal of Dental Education 65(9):849–860.
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