The Berrien County Health Department is working with the Van Buren/Cass County District Health Department to provide free dental screenings for kindergarteners.

The screenings are now required for all children before they start kindergarten as part of the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment law which was signed into effect in December last year. So, the Berrien County Health Department is administering screenings at its Benton Harbor office throughout the summer.

The assessments are completely free, and no dental insurance is needed. The assessment includes a registered dental hygienist briefly looking at the children’s’ teeth and gums, then simply noting any findings.

There will be no treatment or cleaning during the assessment, which can be expected to take about five minutes.

An appointment is required and must be made by visiting bit.ly/BCHDHearingVision or calling Melisa Jordan at 269.926.7121, ext. 5293.