The cost of a school-based dental sealant program can be measured in terms of cost per tooth sealed or cost per participating student. Funding sources often reimburse programs based on the number of students participating or on the number of teeth sealed. Before most funders decide whether to continue supporting the program, they will want to know these costs. Programs must also be able to demonstrate that they are applying dental sealants as cost-effectively as possible.
To determine the cost of operating a school-based dental sealant program, records must be kept of all costs related to the program, including costs for staff, printing, equipment, equipment maintenance, supplies, Internet subscriptions, and transportation. The following table reports costs so that program administrators can compare line-item costs, cost per student assessed, cost per student who received sealants, cost per tooth sealed, and cost per visit.
ITEM |
Sealant Program Agency |
Grants * |
Donated ** |
Total |
|
Staff (including benefits): |
|||||
• |
Dentist(s)/dental therapist(s) |
||||
• |
Dental hygienist(s) |
||||
• |
Dental assistant(s) |
||||
• |
Program administrator(s) |
||||
• |
Administrative staff (e.g., data-entry clerk, secretary) |
||||
Supplies |
|||||
Printing |
|||||
Travel (e.g., transporting equipment, distributing consent forms, meeting with funders) |
|||||
Liability insurance |
|||||
Equipment (depreciate by dividing initial cost by life expectancy) |
|||||
Other (e.g., phone, postage) |
|||||
TOTALS |
|||||
* Financial support from organizations other than the one operating the program.
** The value of goods and services provided at no cost from another organization.
