About

Michigan’s Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program 

Dental problems can prevent children from reaching their full learning potential.  To improve school readiness, Michigan created the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program (KOHA).   The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services administers the program, and it is carried out through local health departments.  Local health departments provide free dental assessments (screenings) before the start of kindergarten at places like preschools, school registration events, community events and in schools during the kindergarten school year.

The Importance of Dental Assessments

• Cavities are common.  Tooth decay (cavities) is the most common chronic disease in children.  Almost half of Michigan Head Start children have tooth decay, and close to one-third have tooth decay that hasn’t been treated.
• Cavities can cause pain.  Pain can make it hard for children to pay attention in school, prevent them from eating well, and keep them awake at night.   All of this can affect their ability to learn and perform well in school.
• Poor dental health affects physical health, behavior, and academic and social development.  Dental problems can affect a child’s ability to learn and their attendance and performance in school.   In fact, children with poor dental health are three times more likely to miss school because of dental problems.  Poor oral health can also affect socialization, self-esteem, and behavior.  
• Children’s oral health is a key public health priority.  Ensuring that children have access to dental care will help them grow, develop, and succeed.  The KOHA dental assessments identify untreated dental disease and refer children for needed care, connect children and their families to dental homes, raise awareness of the importance of good oral health among children and families, and are an opportunity for oral health education.

The program is available in most Michigan counties.  This map shows where KOHA is operating in the 2025-2026 school year:

Contact

MDHHS-KOHA@michigan.gov