Oral Health for Students

To make sure your child is ready for school, California law, Education Code Section 49452.8, now requires that your child have an oral health assessment (dental check-up) by May 31 in either kindergarten or first grade, whichever is his or her first year in public school. Assessments that have been completed within the 12 months before your child enters school also meet this requirement. The law specifies that the assessment must be done by a licensed dentist or other licensed or registered dental health professional.

Take this form with you to the dentist. If you cannot take your child for this required exam, please indicate the reason for this in Section 3 of the form. California law requires schools to maintain the privacy of students’ health information.

The following resources will help you find a dentist and complete this requirement for your child:

MediCal/Denti-Cal’s toll-free number (1-800-322-6384) or Website can help you to find a dentist who takes Denti-Cal

For help enrolling your child in Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal, or for additional resources that may be helpful, contact the local Department of Public Social Services at 11060 Magnolia Ave. The phone number is 951-358-3400.

Tips for Parents on Oral Health

Remember, your child is not healthy and ready for school if he or she has poor dental health! Here is important advice to help your child stay healthy:

• Take your child to the dentist twice a year.

• Choose healthy foods for the entire family. Fresh foods are usually the healthiest foods.

• Brush teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.

• Babies should never be put to bed with a bottle. Baby bottles should be eliminated by age 2.

• Limit candy and sweet drinks such as punch or soda. Sweet drinks and candy contain a lot of sugar, which causes cavities and replaces important nutrients in your child’s diet. Sweet drinks and candy also contribute to weight problems, which may lead to other diseases, such as diabetes. The less candy and sweet drinks, the better!

Baby teeth are very important. They are not just teeth that will fall out. Children need their teeth to eat properly, talk, smile, and feel good about themselves. Children with cavities may have difficulty eating, stop smiling, and have problems paying attention and learning at school. Tooth decay is an infection that does not heal and can be painful if left without treatment. If cavities are not treated, children can become sick enough to require emergency room treatment and their adult teeth may be permanently damaged.

Many things influence a child’s progress and success in school, including health. Children must be healthy to learn, and children with cavities are not healthy. Cavities are preventable, but they affect more children than any other chronic disease.