On February 4, 2026, students at King George VI Public School in Chatham, Ontario, will receive free dental screenings to check for cavities and urgent oral health issues. The program focuses on students in Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 2, and Grade 7 and is organized by the Chatham-Kent Public Health (CK Public Health) dental team. These quick checks help find dental problems early so that children do not have to deal with pain or infections that could distract them from their schoolwork.
Registered Dental Hygienists will use sterilized mirrors to perform a quick visual “look-see” of each student’s mouth in a portable station set up at the school. These assessments are part of the Ontario Public Health Standards, which require health units to monitor the dental health of children in the community. After the assessment, students will take home a report card that explains what the hygienist found and whether any follow-up care is needed.
The school uses a passive consent (opt-out) model, which means students in the selected grades will be screened unless a parent explicitly asks that their child be excluded. Parents who want to opt out, or those with children in other grades who would like to request a screening, can contact the CK Public Health dental team at 519-355-1071 ext. 5700. The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) works with health officials to schedule these visits to minimize disruption to the school day.
If a child is found to have an urgent dental need, the health unit can help families apply for Healthy Smiles Ontario. This provincial initiative provides free dental care for children 17 and under from households that meet income-based eligibility criteria, and the health unit assists eligible families with applications and referrals.
