Kindergarten Dental Screenings in Michigan
To ensure your child is healthy and ready for school, Michigan law recommends that children have a dental screening or oral health exam before they begin kindergarten. Dental Screenings are available at 4 of our Michigan locations: Detroit, Allegan, Bay City, and Sandusky. Here’s everything you need to know about kindergarten or child dental screenings and where to schedule one.
What to Expect During a Kindergarten Dental Screening
During a dental screening, a dental hygienist will examine a child’s oral health while lying back in a chair under a bright light. After a brief consultation to understand previous dental history, a hygienist will begin cleaning your child’s teeth. This process includes using metal dental tools to remove plaque and tartar, flossing between teeth, brushing teeth, and possibly a fluoride gel or foam treatment to prevent tooth decay and cavities.
By the time a child is five years old, they should already have dental x-rays recorded. If your child hasn’t had x-rays taken before, our team will take them. During a dental x-ray exam, the dental hygienist will place a thick apron over their chest. Then, your child will bite down on a small piece of plastic while a scanner is either positioned outside their mouth or moves in a circular motion around their head to take images of their mouth.
At MCDC, we’re accommodating to every patient. We will talk children through every step of the dental screening process. Our goal is to ensure all our patients are comfortable and understand what will happen next. A typical kindergarten dental screening appointment takes roughly 30 minutes. For children with disabilities or special needs, the dental screening appointment may last longer than usual, or we may schedule additional appointments as necessary. If you have requests for our staff to help your child feel more comfortable during their dental exam, please let us know when you schedule your appointment.
How Oral Health Improves School Readiness
Not only do kindergarten dental screenings help to improve and maintain your child’s oral health, but it also positively impacts their school readiness. Children with poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t. It’s also common for children with cavities to experience difficulty eating, talking, and concentrating in school. Kindergarten oral health screenings help ensure children are healthy and ready for a successful school year. Establishing good oral health habits during childhood helps create a lifetime of healthy smiles and confidence.
Regular dental screenings and check-ups every six months are important because they give the dentist consistent opportunities to provide preventive treatment and find minor issues before they become big. Children who develop a familiar relationship with their dentist are also less likely to experience dental anxiety and are more likely to visit the dentist regularly into adulthood.
Children Dental Care Payment Options
Everyone deserves a smile that makes them feel good. It’s why we offer quality dental services at reduced fees to patients without dental insurance; Learn more about our available plans by calling (877) 313-6232 with questions.
MCDC also services all patients with accepted dental insurance or who are enrolled in Healthy Kids Dental (HKD). We’ll give you or your child a smile to feel confident about.
Our dental clinics accept most forms of payment, including cash, checks, money orders, debit cards, and major credit card providers such as American Express, Mastercard, Discover, and Visa. We also participate with Care Credit to provide affordable dental financing options.
