Certification for School Dental Sealant Programs

Notice of Temporary Rulemaking: COVID-19 Certification Rules for Local School Dental Sealant Programs 

Temporary Oregon Administrative Rules, OAR 333-028 (Effective from September 3, 2021 through March 1, 2022)

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 of local school dental sealant 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. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the OHA Public Health Division, Oral Health Program is temporarily amending administrative rules in chapter 333, division 28 "Certification for Local School Dental Sealant Programs" to incorporate specific guidelines to safely provide dental sealant services in the school setting. Temporary rules are needed to provide guidelines for certified school dental sealant programs for the first half of the 2021-22 school year until permanent rules are in place. OHA is currently in the rulemaking process to permanently amend OAR 333-028-0300 through 333-028-0350 in chapter 333, division 28 "Certification for Local School Dental Sealant Programs".

This temporary rule is effective September 3, 2021 through March 1, 2021, or until the permanent rulemaking process is completed and permanent rules are filed.

For more details, please see the Temporary Administrative Order including the Statement of Need and Justification and the full text of the temporary rule below:

• OAR 333-028 - Notice to Interested Parties (pdf)
  
• OAR 333-028 - Temporary Administrative Order (pdf)
  
• OAR 333-028 - Full Text of Temporary Rules in Tracked Changes (pdf)
  

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 an aggregate-level data report 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

• Recertification Process & Timeline (pdf)
  
• Site Visit Tool (pdf)
  
• Data Report Draft Template (pdf) - the Excel file will be sent to programs by the end of the May 2021.

Application Form for Initial Certification

STEP 1: Email the OHA Oral Health Program at oral.health@dhsoha.state.or.us 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@dhsoha.state.or.us 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@dhsoha.state.or.us or (971) 412-0531.

Webinars & Training Resources

OHA hosted a webinar by GC America to provide information on the bonding, retention and release of fluoride in glass ionomer sealant material. The presenters demonstrated a technique that does not generate aerosols and is an acceptable alternative for glass ionomer sealant placement during the COVID-19 pandemic.  For those who were unable to attend, you mayview 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 next certification training will be held virtually via MS Teams on Tuesday October 26, 2021 from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM and Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. You must attend both sessions to meet this training requirement. Please click here to register for the training. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the Teams meeting.

Certification trainings will take place periodically throughout the school year if needed. Please contact the Oral Health Program at oral.health@dhsoha.state.or.us or (971) 412-0531 if you need to take the one-time certification training.

Training Topics

• Research and Evidence-Based Practices
• Utilizing Hygienists and Dental Assistants
• Trauma Informed Care Practices
• Recruiting and Working with Schools
• Forms and Health Literacy Guidelines
• Protocols for Quality
• Data Collection and Reporting
• Continuous Quality Improvement
• Providing Services in a School Setting
• 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 control guidelines
• Quality assessment of the program (e.g. performance benchmarks and standards)
• Confidentiality and security guidelines
• Internal policies and procedures

OHA Virtual Clinical Training - August 6, 12 & 26, 2021

The OHA Clinical Training for the 2021-22 school year was held virtually via Zoom. If you were unable to attend the live sessions, please view the recording and training materials for each session below. Closed captioning is available for the recordings.

SESSION 1 - Friday, August 6, 2021, 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

View arecording of training session 1. 

• Federal & State Updates (pdf)
  
• Research Updates (pdf)
  
• Triaging During Screenings (pdf)
  
• Sealant Determination (pdf)
  
• Dental Sealant Materials & Manufacturer's Directions, Dr. Carmem Pfeifer, OHSU (pdf)