Roman, Agnieszka AnnaObjective: To examine sociodemographic and dental factors for associations with dental sealant placement in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old. Methods: Secondary data analysis of 2011-2012 NHANES data was conducted. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess relationships between predictor variables and sealant presence. Results: More than a third (37.1%) of children and adolescents have at least one sealant present; 67.9% of children compared with 40.4% of adolescents. Racial/ethnic differences exist, with Non-Hispanic black youth having the lowest odds of having sealants. Sealant placement odds vary by presence of dental home; the magnitude of the odds varies by age group. Those with untreated decay have lower odds of having sealants than those who do not have untreated decay (child OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.83-3.72; adolescent OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.59-6.07). Conclusion: Disparities exist in odds of sealant prevalence across racial/ethnic groups, income levels, and dental disease and visit characteristics. Further research is necessary to understand the reasons for these differences and to inform future interventions.enAn Investigation of Child and Adolescent Dental Sealant Predictors, NHANES 2011-2012ThesisEpidemiologyDentistryPublic healthcariesdentaldisparitiespreventionsealants