A new Illinois law requires children to have a dental exam performed by a dentist before their ninth-grade year.
The new edict is an addition to a previous law that stipulated that children in kindergarten, second and sixth grades have a dental exam. It now expands to include students entering the ninth grade; this makes dental requirements the same as school physicals.
“Our children are our most precious resource, and every child deserves to enter school free of dental pain or problems,” said Dr. Randall Markarian, president of the Illinois State Dental Society. “Unfortunately, tooth decay and dental disease is a leading cause of decreased school performance and lost school days.”
The law applies to public, private and parochial schools and goes into effect for the 2019-20 school year. Children in the designated grades must have a dental exam performed by a dentist by May 15 of their school year or present proof to their school that their exam has been scheduled in the next 60 days. (For more on requirements for medical exams required for Illinois schoolchildren, go HERE.)
Failure to present proof of the dental examination by May 15 may result in the school holding the child’s report card, unless the child presents proof of the completed dental exam or proof that a dental exam will take place within 60 days after May 15. The Department of Public Health will establish a waiver for children who show an undue burden due to lack of access to a dentist.
Need a dentist? Check our dentist guide. We also have an orthodontist guide, too.
Part 1: Champaign-Urbana Area School Registration Information
Part 2: Champaign-Urbana Metro Area First Day of School Dates
Part 3: Back to School: Vision, Dental, Physical Exams Required for Illinois Schoolchildren
Part 4: Back to School: Immunizations Required for Illinois Schoolchildren
Part 5: Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten
Part 6: Back to School Shopping on a Budget
Part 7: Preparing Your Child for a New School