This guide can help Head Start program directors, health managers/specialists, family service coordinators, home visitors, and other staff understand how to use the dental periodicity schedule to know when a child should receive an oral exam. This guide for Head Start staff discusses the Head Start Program Performance Standard for children’s oral health care and explains a dental periodicity schedule. It also describes what an oral exam is, who can do an oral exam, and when a child should have one.
What is the Head Start Program Performance Standard for children’s oral health care?
Head Start program staff must make sure that every child’s oral health care is up to date. An oral health professional can confirm if a child’s oral health care is up to date based on the state Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) dental periodicity schedule. If the child’s oral health care is not up to date, Head Start staff should help the family get oral health care for their child as soon as possible.
What is a dental periodicity schedule?
A dental periodicity schedule indicates what oral health care is needed for children. The schedule shows when children should have an oral exam, tests, counseling, and preventive care. Most schedules recommend repeating care every 6 months, or more often if a child is at risk for oral disease.
Most states follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s (AAPD’s) recommended dental periodicity schedule. Some states have their own schedule. This AAPD webpage shows which schedule each state uses. If a state does not have a dental periodicity schedule, contact your state oral health program for guidance.
What is an oral exam?
During an oral exam, a child’s mouth is checked for tooth decay and other oral concerns. The oral health team also talks with the family about eating healthy foods and keeping their mouths clean and healthy and answers their questions. After the exam, the team shares and discusses a treatment plan with the family. When children have oral exams early, they often feel more comfortable and positive about dental visits.
Who can do an oral exam?
Every state has a dental practice act that describes what services each oral health professional, such as a dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, and dental assistant, is allowed to do. This includes who can legally do an oral exam and make a diagnosis. In all states, a dentist can do an oral exam. In some states, a dental therapist can do an oral exam. And in some states, other oral health professionals, such as dental hygienists, can do an oral assessment and/or an oral health screening that meets the state’s dental periodicity schedule. To learn more about these roles, ask your state oral health program or state health program.
When should a child get their first oral exam?
The first oral exam is an important start for a child’s lifelong oral health. Most state dental periodicity schedules recommend that a child’s first oral exam happen after their first tooth comes in (at around age 6 months) and by age 12 months. The table below shows the recommended age for a first oral exam based on the state dental periodicity schedule.
State | 1st Oral Exam |
|---|---|
Alaska | 6–12 months |
Alabama | 6–12 months |
Arkansas | Not applicable (NA)* |
Arizona | 12–24 months |
California | 6–12 months |
Colorado | 6–12 months |
Connecticut | 6–12 months |
District of Columbia | 6–12 months |
Delaware | 6–12 months |
Florida | NA* |
Georgia | 6–12 months |
Hawaii | NA* |
Iowa | Birth–12 months |
Idaho | 6–12 months |
Illinois | 24 months–3 years |
Indiana | 6–12 months |
Kansas | 6–12 months |
Kentucky | NA* |
Louisiana | 6–12 months |
Massachusetts | 6–12 months |
Maryland | 6–12 months |
Maine | 6–12 months |
Michigan | 6–12 months |
Minnesota | 6–12 months |
Missouri | NA* |
Mississippi | Birth–6 months |
Montana | NA* |
North Carolina | Birth–12 months |
North Dakota | 6–12 months |
Nebraska | 6–12 months |
New Hampshire | 6–12 months |
New Jersey | Birth–12 months |
New Mexico | NA* |
Nevada | 6–12 months |
New York | 6–12 months |
Ohio | NA* |
Oklahoma | 6–12 months |
Oregon | Birth–12 months |
Pennsylvania | 6–12 months |
Rhode Island | 6–12 months |
South Carolina | Birth–12 months |
South Dakota | 6–12 months |
Tennessee | 6–12 months |
Texas | 6–12 months |
Utah | 6–12 months |
Virginia | 6–12 months |
Vermont | 6–12 months |
Washington | NA* |
Wisconsin | 6–12 months |
West Virginia | 6–12 months |
Wyoming | Birth–12 months |
* State has not established an EPSDT dental periodicity schedule.
