State Laws on Dental "Screening" for School-Aged Children

Want to register your child in school? Most likely, you'll need proof that they have received proper vaccinations.

Some states apply that approach to oral health, and require a dental "screening" before children enroll in school or as they enter specific grades.

This 2008 policy brief summarizes state dental screening laws in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The analysis finds that governments should be clear about the public health purpose of a dental screening requirement and how to measure its effectiveness.

The brief was developed by the Children's Dental Health Project in conjunction with the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors.

Featured states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.