Dental Screenings/Tooth Taxi Update

Tooth Taxi-

To date we have had over 60  Tooth Taxi packets go home, but only a handful returned. This is just a reminder that a completed Tooth Taxi packet must be received by the school before students can be seen by the Tooth Taxi.

Dental Screenings-

We all know how important good dental health is. On Monday November 7th, we will be conducting dental screenings as a service to our students.  During the screening, a dental hygienist or dentist will use a flashlight to look at student’s teeth. They will note whether or not they see anything of concern.  A report from the screening will be sent home with students. If the issues are severe, families will also receive a phone call.

Families of students in first through fifth grade can opt their child out of the dental screening. Notes about the dental screening are going home with students today. At the bottom of the note for first through fifth grade students is a space where parents can sign that they do not want their child to be screened. Once signed, parents need to return the note to the office.

It’s a little bit more complicated for kindergarten students.  Kindergarten families should also sign the form at the bottom of the note if they do not want their child to participate in the November 7th screening and return the note to school.

However,  Oregon has a new law that requires schools to collect information on dental screenings from kindergarten students and students under seven who are in school for the first time. Kindergarten students must either have documentation of having participated in a dental screening or their parents must complete an official Dental Certification Form. So those families who do not want their child screened on November 7th must, if they have not already done so, complete and return the Dental Certification Form. Dental Certification Forms were sent home a few weeks ago but another one will be coming home today with Kindergarten students for parental convenience.

We encourage families whose children have not seen a dentist in an extended  period of time or who have never seen a dentist, to take advantage of this free dental screening.

Below are links to the forms for the dental screening and the ODE Official Dental Certification Form.

First Through Fifth Grade Dental Screening Information

Kindergarten Dental Screening Information