The state of Kansas has a law requiring schools to provide an annual free oral health screening for all students in kindgergarten through 12th grade. All students must receive an exam unless the student has documentation showing he/she has seen a dentist in the three months prior to the school screening date.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's (KDHE) Bureau of Oral Health helps schools comply with the state law by providing screening supplies and toothbrushes and by connecting schools with qualified local dental professionals who are willing to volunteer at the screenings. The Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation provides funding to KDHE's Bureau of Oral Health to purchase the necessary supplies. The Foundation also provides toothbrush kits that are distributed to students after they are screened.
In the first year of the school screening initiative supported by KDHE and the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation, nearly 56,000 students received a free dental exam. In 2009, the number of students screened increased to 75,000. Not only do school screenings alert parents and students to the importance of good oral hygiene and the need for dental treatment, they also provide the state of Kansas with valuable data about the oral health of Kansas kids. The data is available to the public on the KDHE Web site.