School just ended. Kids are enjoying their first few weeks of summer vacation. The swimsuits are on, the lemonade stand is open, and the beautiful weather is here. While the kids are carefree, parents and grandparents may be already thinking about the “Back to School” rush. Their to-do lists may include getting a dental screening for the kids. When my family and I moved to Bowling Green several years ago, I discovered I would need to get a dental screening for my son before he started Kindergarten. This was not really a problem since I had been looking in his mouth since he was a newborn. But I started to wonder why Kentucky had a mandated school dental examination, since I had not experienced anything like that back up in Alaska, or growing up in upstate New York. I was really impressed by what I learned.
In order to understand the reason why children in the Commonwealth are required to undergo a dental health screening, it helps to understand the level of dental disease in the state. Out of all the states, Kentucky has the greatest number of adults under age 65 without teeth. Almost a quarter of Kentucky adults have had teeth extracted because of tooth decay or gum disease. This carries over into the oral health of the children of Kentucky, as well. Approximately half of two- to four-year-old children have untreated cavities. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first dental visit occur no more than six months after the first baby tooth erupts and no later than one year of age. But in Kentucky, nearly 40% of two- to four-year-old children have never visited a dentist and more than 4,000 three-year-olds have complained of toothaches.
The whole idea behind a dental health screening is to help families establish a “dental home” for their children. A “dental home” is simply a dental office where the child receives comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, accessible, compassionate and culturally-effective dental care. This means the dentist and dental team work closely with the child’s family to prevent dental disease and to treat dental problems. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, children who have a “dental home” experience, on average, have much better oral health than kids who have to go to the emergency room for toothaches and other dental problems.
In 2008, then-Governor Steve Beshear signed legislation to require all children who are five or six years old and enrolling in public school for the first time to show proof of a dental examination. This went into effect in January 2011. One of the ideas behind this legislation, House Bill 186, was to institute good dental habits at an early age. Many states now have some requirement for a dental examination for school-aged children.
The “Kentucky Dental Screening Examination Form for School Entry” can be completed by a dentist, dental hygienist, physician, registered nurse, advanced nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. The form needs to be completed by January 1st of the child’s first school year. For example, if you have a child entering a public-school kindergarten in August, you need to have their dental screening examination form completed by January 1 of the following year. This gives parents a lot of options and multiple chances to complete the dental health examination. The dentist or other health professional will look in your child’s mouth and document the presence of cavities and fillings. This is a great chance for parents to establish a “dental home” – the place for preventive and routine dental care for their child.
Knowing about your child’s basic oral health status can give parents an opportunity to schedule a dental appointment before tooth decay develops. I believe the more you know, the better chance you have of helping your child achieve a lifetime of great oral health. The Kentucky Dental Screening requirement encourages parents to establish dental care for their children at an early age and can help parents recognize the importance of early dental care.
-by Dr. Mandy Ashley
About Our Dentists: Dr. Mandy Ashley and Dr. Madison Galloway are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists proud to serve the communities of Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, and Glasgow! We look forward to sharing our vision of excellent comprehensive dental care that is fun for children and people with special healthcare needs with your family.
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