New law requires dental checkup for students entering ninth grade

Parents of children in elementary, middle and high school are urged to schedule dental appointments before the 2019-2020 school year begins.

Illinois children going into kindergarten, second, sixth and ninth grades are required to get dental exams. A new state law expanded the requirement to incoming freshmen for the upcoming school year. Dental checkups are now required for approximately 150,000 incoming Illinois ninth-graders.

The final deadline to show proof of a dental exam is May 15, 2020. Failure to meet this requirement could result in the school holding your child's report card.

Cavities and other dental problems can be a distraction in the classroom, making it difficult to participate and concentrate. Nationally, elementary and high school students miss an average of more than two days of school each year due to dental problems. In addition, students with recent tooth pain are four times more likely to have a grade-point average below the median of 2.8.

Preventive measures taken during a regular dental exam include a teeth cleaning and check for cavities, gum disease and any unusual findings in the mouth or on the face and neck.