School Dental Screenings

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Public Health registered dental hygienists and dental assistants provide dental screenings in elementary schools in Waterloo Region.

If you received a notice that a free dental screening is coming to your child’s school, you can use options form below to choose to OPT OUT of the dental screening. If your child is not in one of the grades listed to be screened at their school, you can also choose to OPT IN for the dental screening.

If the dental hygienist identifies a dental problem in a child, parents will receive information on how to access dental care. If you've received a Dental Screening Parent Notification Form, instructions are available below on how to complete and return the form to Public Health.  

Parents do not have to wait for the school dental screening. If your child has a toothache, infection or large cavity, call 519-575-4400 ext. 5010 to arrange a free dental screening with a Registered Dental Hygienist.


Dental Screening Parent Notification Form

The following contains information for parents and guardians whose children received a notice home from Region of Waterloo Public Health after participating in an in-school Public Health Dental Screening.

You received the notice because your child has an urgent dental problem and needs dental care right away. Your child may qualify for free dental care.

The notice includes a form and a prepaid envelope that must be returned to Region of Waterloo Public Health.

Once the completed form is received by Public Health, your child will be removed from our follow-up list. 

Please proceed with one of the following options that best applies to you: 

If you can pay for your child's dental care out of pocket or using health insurance, please book them an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. Take the form with you and your dentist will complete section 1. This is the only section of the form you need filled out. 

Send the completed form to Public Health using the prepaid envelope that came with the form. (You do not need a stamp.)

If your child is already enrolled in Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO), please book them an appointment with a dentist that accepts HSO patients and bring your HSO card to the appointment. Take the form with you and your dentist will complete section 1. This is the only section of the form you need filled out.  

Send the completed form to Public Health using the prepaid envelope that came with the form. (You do not need a stamp.)

If you are unable to pay for your child's dental care, you have the option to enroll them in the Healthy Smiles Ontario program.

  • Read and complete section 2 of the form that you received as part of the notice home. 
    • Section 2 is found on pages 2, 3 and 4. 
    • Do not fill in section 1. 
  • Mail all pages of the form to Public Health using the prepaid envelope that came with the form. (You do not need a stamp.) Public Health will let you know when your form has been processed. 
  • Find a dentist that accepts Healthy Smiles Ontario patients.
  • Book a dentist appointment for your child when their Healthy Smiles Ontario card arrives, and bring the card to each dental appointment. 

Contact Us

Region of Waterloo
150 Frederick St.
Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4J3
Telephone: 519-575-4400
Fax: 519-575-4481

For general inquiries:
Regionalinquiries@regionofwaterloo.ca