Dental Clinics

Poor oral health among today’s school children is now a national crisis.

Consider the facts:

  • Each year, over 51 million school hours are lost due to poor oral health
  • Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease – 5X more common than asthma
  • Only 25% of Medicaid-eligible children get any kind of dental care
  • Only 20% of the nation’s practicing dental-care professionals provide care to people with Medicaid
  • 3 out of every 5 children are affected by tooth decay
  • 16 million children lack access to basic dental care

Due to the overwhelming dental need among students, BCPS Health Services has teamed up with Virginia Smiles and Johnson Health Center to offer school-based dental clinics and mobile dental services. 

Please review the important information below:

  • Treatment may include a dental exam, teeth cleaning, fluoride varnish, x-rays, dental sealants and/or Silver Diamine Fluoride.  

    • Middle and High School Students: The Virginia Smiles Program also provides restorative dental care (cavities filled and simple extractions of baby teeth) if needed.

    • Elementary Students: Johnson Health Center will give a referral if the dentist feels the child needs more dental work (cavities filled or teeth pulled, etc.). They only provide preventative care on the dental bus (exam, cleaning, fluoride, x-rays, sealants). 

  • Schools will send out information regarding the dental program and when they will be visiting your child’s school.  Participation is optional and you decide if you want your child to be examined by the dental team. 

    • If you DO NOT want your child to be seen in the mobile dental clinic, you don’t need to do anything.

    • If you DO want your child to be seen in the mobile dental clinic, complete the online permission form or request a paper permission form from your child’s school.  Please note: the online permission form links will be sent out by the schools and added to this website  in August 2025.

  • Johnson Health Center Mobile Dental Clinic AND The Virginia Smiles Program will see children with private dental insurance, FAMIS/Medicaid, or no dental insurance. 

    • Elementary Students: If your child does not have dental insurance, Johnson Health Center will call you to go over the Reduced Fee application. If Johnson’s Health Center is unable to get in touch with you, your child will not be seen in the mobile dental clinic at school.

    • Middle and High School Students: The Virginia Smiles Program may be able to offer grants for students without dental insurance.

  • The staff with the mobile dental clinics are very experienced with children but no child will be forced to participate if they seem distressed or are unable to cooperate with the exam.

 

Middle and High Schools:

Virginia Smile Program…the mobile dentists

Below is the 2025-2026 schedule. Please note: Schools will send out more information including the link to the online permission form in August 2025. 


  • Liberty High School: September 24, 2025 and March 24, 2026

  • Liberty Middle School: September 23, 2025 and March 23, 2026

  • Jefferson Forest High School: September 5, 2025 and March 5, 2026

  • Forest Middle School: September 5, 2025 and March 5, 2026

  • Staunton River High School: October 1 and 2, 2025 and April 1, 2026

  • Staunton River Middle School: October 1 and 2, 2025 and April 1, 2026

Elementary Schools:

Johnson Health Center Mobile Dental Unit

2025-2026 schedule coming soon. Please note: Schools will send out more information including the link to the online permission form in August 2025.


If you have difficulty using or accessing any element of this website or the documents on this page, information may be available in alternative formats upon request. To ensure we respond in a manner that will be of most help, please indicate the nature of the accessibility needs and your preferred format. Contact information: Mrs. Kelly Thomas, [email protected]