A new study shows New Hampshire's program to give schoolchildren the tools to take care of their teeth ranks consistently near the top of national ratings.
In the report by the Pew Center on the States, New Hampshire and Maine were in the top five of states that provide information and access to dental sealants. The New Hampshire Dental Society says sealants are one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay.
New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island are also in the top five states for providing more than 75 percent of their high risk schools with sealant programs.
Dental sealants coat the teeth with a clear plastic barrier.
New Hampshire and Vermont were both in the top five with at least 50 percent of third-graders getting the sealant.