Student Dental Examination Requirements for Enrollment
New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 6.12.13 was adopted on April 20, 2021 and outlines the student dental examination requirements for enrollment. Please find a summary of requirements as well as a Sample Enrollment Form English , Sample Enrollment Form Waiver Spanish available for school-use.
Children’s Oral Health 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , “Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.
- About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
- 1 of 7 (13%) adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth.
- Children aged 5 to 19 years from low-income families are twice as likely (25%) to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households (11%).
The good news is that cavities are preventable. Fluoride varnish can prevent about one-third (33%) of cavities in the primary (baby) teeth. Children living in communities with fluoridated tap water have fewer cavities than children whose water is not fluoridated. Similarly, children who brush daily with fluoride toothpaste will have fewer cavities.
Dental sealants can also prevent cavities for many years. Applying dental sealants to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth prevent 80% of cavities.“
New Mexico Department of Health Office of Oral Health
The New Mexico Office of Oral (OOH) Health goal is to increase the awareness of families, individuals, and organizations as to the importance of good oral health.
The services provided by the Office of Oral Health are to reduce the incidence of and increase access for those who are experiencing dental disease along with promoting oral health as part of general health.
Our mission is to ensure that all New Mexicans are provided opportunities for improving their oral health and overall health through access to prevention and treatment services and health education.
The American Dental Association
The American Dental Association (ADA) exists to power the profession of dentistry and to assist our members in advancing the overall oral health of their patients. Together with our 163,000+ members, we’ve been driving dentistry forward for 160 years.
We are strong advocates for our members – promoting the art and science of dentistry by supporting dental professionals through services like Find-a-Dentist, credentialing tools, Third Party Payer Concierge, contract review and much more. Our mission is to ensure all member dentists have what they need, when they need it and even before it is needed to succeed.
We are also strong advocates for public health – fighting oral cancer and combating the opioids crisis – and we’re teaming up with industry partners to help you stay healthy from the dental chair to daily care at home.
We will continue working toward our vision – working side by side with our member dentists – to achieve optimal health for all.
Resources
New Mexico Human Services Dental Care Information
New Mexico Medicaid Dentist Directory
If you have questions, please contact:
Ashley Garcia
Health Services/Medical School-Based Services Program Coordinator
Ashley.Garcia@ped.nm.gov
505-690-3842