STORY: ADULT SEALANTS

SCRIPT #527 SHOOT: 9/10/03

AIRDATE: Monday, October 13, 2003

Daybreak and Midday

DHC Master #18 Timecode: 29:44 Adults in their 20’s and 30’s

may not have any cavities because they

grew up with fluoride in water

and toothpaste. But they

still may need sealants, a

procedure that’s not just for kids.

Dr. Linda Niessen has details

in today’s Dental Health Check.

SOVT: 1:43

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KATE GETTING MOLAR SEALED (VOICE-OER)

SUPER: Plano :02-07 Young adults like Kate Knochel

have avoided the most

common childhood disease—tooth

decay or cavities.

SUPER: Kate Knochel (“I never got them until I was adult.

Age 23 :09-12 My first one was like when I was 19.”)

GETTING TEETH SEALED So Kate’s dentist, Dr. Bob Hunsucker

of Plano, suggested sealing Kate’s

cavity free molars.

SUPER: Dr. Bob Hunsucker (“Sealants are perfect for teeth that

Dentist :20-25 have never had a cavity before, and

never had a filling before. Sealants

are plastic resin that flow into the grooves of the teeth and help prevent

the bacteria from getting into the teeth

that causes decay in the teeth.”)

CHILDREN GETTING SEALANTS Children should have first molars

sealed at about age six and second molars at about age twelve, or as soon as they come in. Dental insurance often pays for the procedure. But after age

fourteen ….

DR. HUNSUCKER There may be a problem with insurance not covering the sealants. But it is sure

worth paying the small price of a sealant versus getting a cavity and having to pay a bigger price for a filling.”)

MORE SEALANTS One sealants costs about 30 to 40

dollars. One filling costs as much

as 140 dollars.

COLLEGE STUDENTS One high risk group for cavities appears to be college students, especially

college freshman.

DR. HUNSUCKER (“When kids go off to college, they’re

eating differently. They’re not brushing

the same. Mom or dad are not there to

remind them to brush. And we’ll see

cavities when they come back from that

first semester. They’ll have a cavity or

two just because things have changed.”)

KATE KNOCHEL Kate fit that profile. Her first cavity

developed during college.

KATE KNOCHEL (“When I came home from my freshman

year, maybe I hadn’t been brushing my

teeth enough.”)

ON CAMERA (STAND-UP CLOSE)

SUPER: Dr. Linda Niessen So if your college student comes

Baylor College of Dentistry home with cavities this semester,

1:29-1:33 give him or her an education about

sealants. They’re not just for

children. For Baylor College of

Dentistry, Texas A&M System,

I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel

8 News.