The Smile Survey is a public/private partnership that includes the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, local health jurisdictions (LHJs), dental providers, and funding and planning support from Arcora Foundation. Usually conducted every five years, dental providers perform screenings on children in pre-k, kindergarten, second and third grade in communities across the state. The data provides a point in time look at rates of treated and untreated decay, including rampant decay, and application of dental sealants, as well as trends over the history of the survey. DOH and a number of LHJs collect and analyze the data and publish the results. For example, here are the 2015-16 Washington State Smile Survey and the 2015-16 King County Smile Survey results. The Smile Survey started during the 2022/23 school year and will conclude in the 2023/2024 school year. This handson data collection activity will provide much-needed insight into the current oral health status of Washington children, including the impacts of the pandemic and access to dental care. If your school is selected to participate in this important survey, the DOH Oral Health Program and Arcora Foundation appreciate your approval and your support.
The 2023 Smile Survey is making significant progress across the state. So far, thanks to the partnership of school districts, the survey has reached 55% of schools randomly selected for the sample. In Spokane County, the Smile Spokane Collaborative is seeking connections to selected schools to support participation in the Smile Survey.