School Dental Screenings

School Dental Screenings

Since July of 2008 the State of Iowa requires an entry dental exam for all children entering kindergarten as well as ninth grade.  The purpose of the exam is to improve the oral health of our state.  Dental decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood.  It is more common than asthma, obesity, and diabetes.  By the time a child enters kindergarten two out of every five children will have experienced a cavity.  Enrollment screenings and exams can help identify children who may have dental disease that needs to be addressed.  It can also help establish a referral and relationship with a dental home.  The dental home is a place where children and teens can receive comprehensive and preventative care.  Preventive strategies can be utilized to help reduce the amount of decay that children experience.

Treatment Needs

Treatment of dental needs prior to the first day of school can help reduce the amount of time children and teens are away from the classroom.  Children and teens that have or develop a toothache can impact performance in the classroom.  Tooth pain can impact the ability to pay attention to teachers, focus on tasks that are assigned, and test performance.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) encourages policy makers, public health and education officials, and the dental community to recognize that poor oral health can affect a child’s ability to learn. An oral health examination prior to matriculation into school may improve school readiness by providing a timely opportunity for diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions.

As a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry we support back to school examinations to help improve the health of our community.  If your child or teen needs an exam contact our office at 563-607-5979.

Form: IDPH Certificate

References

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on Mandatory School-entrance Oral Health Examinations. Pediatr Dent 2012;36(special issue):35-37.

Pierce KM, Rozier RG, Vann WF. Accuracy of pediatric primary care providers’ screening and referral for early childhood caries. Pediatrics 2002;109(5):E82. Available at: “http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/109/5/e82.long”. Accessed July 14, 2012.

National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health and Georgetown University. Fact sheet: Oral health and learning. Arlington, Va: NCEMCH; 2001.

Center on Hunger, Poverty, and Nutrition Policy. Statement on the link between nutrition and cognitive development in children. Medford, Mass: Tufts University, Center on Hunger, Poverty, and Nutrition Policy; 1998.