Have You Heard?
A new kindergarten entry requirement takes effect in the 2024-2025 school year. Children will now be required to have a dental assessment prior to starting kindergarten.
Did You Know?
1. Poor dental health affects attendance and grades. Kids with poor dental health are 3x more likely to miss school because of dental problems.
2. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children. Almost half of Michigan Head Start children have tooth decay and close to one-third have untreated decay.
3. Children’s oral health is a key public health priority. Early detection of dental problems and connecting children to needed care will help children succeed.
Common Questions:
How will students benefit from having a dental assessment? Students will benefit from having a dental assessment (screening) because it will identify those who may have dental-related issues and connect them to needed care. Oral health problems can cause pain and make it difficult for children to eat, speak, sleep, or even socialize, all of which can prevent children from reaching their full learning potential.
What if a parent does not have a dentist and asks how they can get the screening done? The screening can be done through the local health department or screening event such as Kindergarten Roundups, back to school events, etc. You can also contact the local health department for help finding a dental home for a family if they do not have one. Consider assisting families with enrolling their student in Michigan’s Healthy Kids
Dental program, by visiting: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/healthcare/childrenteens/hkdental
Call the Main Office at 517-592-6632 with any questions!