Oral Health Screening in Schools

The importance of oral health screening

Good oral health is important to a child's overall well-being. Untreated dental issues may cause pain and infection that affect students’ speech and sleep. They could also affect their ability to attend school, learn and eat nutritious foods. Oral health screening is quick, easy and safe. It also helps identify possible dental concerns and eligibility for the Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) (external link) program.

Visit Halton’s Oral Health Promotion page for more information about how to keep children and youths’ mouths healthy.

Oral health screening

Registered Dental Hygienists from Halton Region Public Health provide dental screening for children in selected grades at publicly funded Halton elementary schools. The Ontario Public Health Standards require health units to conduct this screening to identify children who may need treatment and help families access dental care.

Parents can also request a free screening with a registered dental hygienist to assess their child’s oral health (and eligibility for the Healthy Smiles Ontario Program). Call 311 or complete our Contact Form to book an in-person screening at our clinic or a tele-screening appointment by phone - or virtually.

During the oral health screening

The Registered Dental Hygienist will take a quick look in your child’s mouth with a sterilized mirror. Parents will be notified of obvious dental problems and/or recommendations for preventive care. A dental screening is a visual assessment only and does not replace your child’s regular dental visit with a dental provider.

Your childs screening

If your child is in a selected grade to be screened, you will be notified by a letter or email from your child’s school. If you would like to opt out of this screening, fill out our Oral Health School Screening Form.

Requesting a screening

If your child needs dental care and you can’t afford it, you do not have to wait for the school screening. Please call 311 and ask for the Oral Health Program or fill out our Contact Form. Or if you would like your child to be screened on Oral Health Dental Screening Day at school, and they are not in a selected grade to be screened, please fill out the Oral Health School Screening form.