Improvements in Appropriate Placement of Dental Sealants After Implementation of a Clinical Decision Support System

Authors

Joanna Mullins
Ryan Brandon
Nicholas Skourtes
Elsbeth Kalenderian
Muhammad Walji

Publication Date

5-1-2024

Journal

Journal of American Dental Association

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dental sealants are effective for the prevention of caries in children at elevated risk levels, and increasing the proportion of children and adolescents who have dental sealants on 1 or more molars is a Healthy People 2030 objective. Electronic health record (EHR)-based clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have the ability to improve patient care. A dental quality measure related to dental sealant placement for children at elevated risk of caries was targeted for improvement using a CDSS.

METHODS: A validated dental quality measure was adapted to assess a patient's need for dental sealant placement. A CDSS was implemented to advise care team members whether a child was at elevated risk of developing caries and had sealant-eligible first or second molars. Data on dental sealant placement at examination visits during a 5-year period were analyzed, including 32 months before CDSS implementation and 28 months after CDSS implementation.

RESULTS: From January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2022, the authors assessed 59,047 examination visits for children at elevated risk of developing caries and with sealant-eligible teeth. With the implementation of a CDSS and training to support the clinical care team members in September 2020, the appropriate placement of dental sealants at examination visits increased from 27% through 60% (P < .00001).

CONCLUSIONS: Integration of a CDSS into the EHR as part of a quality improvement program was effective in increasing the delivery of sealants in eligible first and second molars of children aged 5 through 15 years and considered at high risk of developing caries.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: An EHR-based CDSS can be implemented to improve standardization and provide timely and appropriate patient care in dental practices.

Keywords

Preventive care, Evidence-based dentistry, Decision Support Systems, Dental Caries, Sealants, Quality Improvement, High caries risk

Comments

PMID: 38583172