NEW KINDERGARTEN LAW

Information for Parents and Guardians

When your child attends public school for the first time, he/she will begin a learning adventure that will last a lifetime. 

Many things influence a child’s progress and success in school – and one of the most important is their health.  Children must be healthy to learn and children with cavities are not healthy.  Cavities are preventable, but they affect more children than any other chronic disease!

Baby teeth are very important – they are not just teeth that will fall out.  Children need their teeth to eat properly, talk, smile and feel good about themselves.  Children with cavities may have difficulty eating, stop smiling and have problems paying attention and learning at school.  Tooth decay is an infection that does not heal and can be painful if left without treatment.  If cavities are not treated, children can become sick enough to require emergency room treatment and their adult teeth may be permanently damaged.

To make sure your child is ready for school, California law now requires that your child have a dental check-up by May 31 of his or her first school year (kindergarten or first grade) in public school.  Dental evaluations that have happened within the 12 months before your child enters school also meet this requirement.  Your school will give you the required form to take with you when your child has his/her check-up.

You can get copies of the necessary forms at your child’s school, or by going directly to the California Department of Education’s Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov

Free, no-charge child oral assessments are available by appointment to help you fulfill the school-required dental checkup.

Please call the office of Dr. Andrew Fong at (408) 377-5833 for more information.   

Our office is located at 4000 S.Bascom Avenue at the corner of White Oaks Avenue.

If you would like a free booklet: Your Child’s Teeth – Helpful Tips for Parents and Caregivers, go to appointments on this web site, and e-mail us for your complimentary copy.  

We look forward to helping you.