2010 School Dental Screening Requirement
Along with a school physical and vision screening, children entering Kindergarten next school year are now also required to get a dental screening. The recent passage of House Bill 186 now requires a dental screening for five (5) and six (6) year olds for the year they enter into the public school system.
Why require a dental screening for children? Perhaps the most convincing reason for our state to address oral health is that Kentucky currently has the nation’s highest rate of toothlessness. Overall dental health affects many aspects of our general quality of life from overall self-esteem, difficultly in getting a balanced diet and impact on chronic disease, and even early mortality. Though the proverbial chicken-or-the-egg question has yet to be definitively answered, the connection is clear: poor oral health routinely coexists with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses. Behavioral factors such as smoking and poor diets have clearly established causal links to poor oral health. While real public health gains have been made in oral health, Kentucky’s overall status can best be termed as below average. That being said, this new dental screening requirement is an attempt to draw attention to how important oral health is at an early age and should be considered a ‘good’ thing.
The required dental screening can be completed by a dentist, dental hygienist, medical practitioner or an Anderson County Health Department nurse. Anderson County Health Department will be offering a free dental screening to patients who get a school physical or receive a dental varnish from our agency. Don’t wait until school is about to start…. take time to call and schedule an appointment now!
For more information about this new requirement or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Anderson County Health Department at (502) 839-4551 or visit us online at www.achdonline.org.
Brandon Hurley, MPH
Anderson County Health Department
Public Health Director
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Written By: Brandon Hurley
Date Posted: 4/22/2010
Number of Views: 186
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