Dental Screening and Oral Health Education

As part of our regular school preventive dental health program, staff from the Durham County Department of Public Health will conduct dental screenings for children in Pre-K, and Kindergarten - 5th grades during the current school year.

The Department’s public health hygienist will perform the screening, and will use gloves, a mask, a flashlight and will use a tongue depressor for each child. The screening serves as an educational and positive dental experience and helps collect vital information to help improve children’s dental health programs.

Screening programs include oral health education sessions for classrooms and for families as well. The trainings teach participants about the importance of oral hygiene, how to brush and floss, and even helping set up dental appointments (when necessary), etc..   

Forms will be sent home with students for parents/guardian to review and decide as to whether their child will be screened. Letters are sent home with all students who have been screened, notifying their family of the results and offering option for treatment (when applicable).

The program also provides dental screenings at select Head Start and Early Head Start sites, as well as daycare centers.

Dental screenings and oral health education completed by the Department of Public Health are always free of charge.