Rutgers Dental School Expands Free Sealant Program in New Jersey Schools
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine launched a school-based dental sealant program serving low-income school districts across New Jersey, providing free preventive care including sealants and oral health screenings to students. The program treated 200 students in Franklin Township starting in February 2026 and plans to expand to Atlantic County schools in fall 2026. The state Department of Health provided $55,000 in grants to support the initiative, which addresses New Jersey's high rates of untreated dental disease among children — more than one-third of third graders have untreated decay compared to one-fifth nationwide. The program targets children in Medicaid and low-income families, who face higher decay rates and limited access to pediatric dentists accepting Medicaid.