New York reboots school-based dental services program after COVID-19 shutdown

More than 300 school-based health centers across New York were cleared to reopen, restoring dental care access for pre-K through grade 12 children in underserved communities, NYSDA announced March 24. The school-based programs were shut down at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last March.

The school-based health centers operate by bringing care to students in underserved communities via mobile dental clinics or directly through a dental suite located within the school, depending on the district and availability.

In addition to preventive and restorative dental care, the state-run programs provide primary health services, mental health services, counseling and chronic illness management.