School Dental Care Ordinance (SZpV) - Scope of Application (SZPV)

1. This regulation governs dental care in recognized kindergartens and public elementary schools.

1. School Dental Care as Part of Health Education Includes

a) Guidance on a Healthy Diet;

b) Instruction on Oral Hygiene and Proper Dental Care;

c) Implementation of Age-Appropriate Preventive Measures;

d) An Annual Dental Examination;

e) Treatment of Dental Damages;

f) Informing Parents About Abnormal Tooth Positions.

2. The School Dental Treatment Referred to in Sec. 1 Subsec. e Requires Parental Consent.

1. The cantonal government council appoints a cantonal school dental care commission consisting of eleven members.

2. The representative of the Department of Health presides over the commission.

1. The School Dental Care Commission consists of

a) one representative each from the Department of Health and the Department of Education;

b) one representative each from the Health Council and the Education Council;

c) two representatives from the Cantonal Dentists' Association;

d) two teachers;

e) two representatives from the Association of St. Gallen Public School Sponsors;

f) one school dentist;

g) one specialist in pediatric and adolescent medicine.

2. The secretariat is managed by the Department of Health.

1. The Cantonal School Dental Care Commission enforces this regulation, unless otherwise specified.

2. It has the following tasks, in particular

a) Supervision of school dental care;

b) Advising the education and health councils, as well as school communities and school dentists;

c) Preparation and execution of advanced training courses for kindergarten teachers, teachers, school dental assistants, school dentists, and school authorities;

d) Preliminary review of circular letters for the enforcement of this regulation;

e) Annual reporting on school dental care in school communities for the attention of the education and health councils.

1. The school community ensures the organization, implementation, and supervision of school dental care.

2. It compiles an annual report and submits it to the cantonal school dental care commission for their information.

1. The school district elects one or more dentists admitted to independent practice in the canton as school dentists.

2. The election is for a term of four years.

3. The school dentists must be reported to the Department of Health.

1. The teachers shall conduct the school dental care in accordance with Art. 2 Para. 1 Lit. a to c of this decree.

1. The school community may employ a prophylaxis assistant to support kindergarten teachers and teachers and to reduce the workload of the school dentist.

2. Parents of the children can be invited to dental care lessons in kindergarten and the lower grades of primary school.

1. Upon application by the school community, the Department of Health shall appoint a prophylaxis assistant.

2 ...

3. The costs shall be borne by the school community.

1. The State provides the school communities with dental cleaning and educational materials.

2. The distribution is carried out by the cantonal teaching materials publishing house.

3. The costs of the initial equipment are borne by the State. The renewal is at the expense of the school community.

1. The school district maintains a student card or a school dental care booklet for each student in kindergarten and primary school.

2. The student card and school dental care booklet are provided by the cantonal teaching materials publisher against reimbursement of costs.

1. The school community provides parents with a list of school dentists.

2. Parents select the school dentist desired for the child's annual examination. They may choose to have the examination conducted by another dentist if they cover the costs themselves.

3. They inform the school community which dentist will conduct the examination.

1. The dentist appointed by the parents examines the students as soon as possible after they enter kindergarten or school.

2. During compulsory schooling, the examination is repeated annually. If the treatment is carried out by the school dentist, the examination must be supplemented with bitewing X-rays before the end of compulsory schooling.

1. The dentist records the examination findings, treatment proposal, and cost estimate in the student's card or school dental care booklet and informs the parents.

1. The parents decide on treatment and dentist.

1. The school community hands over the student card or the school dental care booklet to the dentist designated by the parents. The dentist calls in the students for treatment.

2. The treatment may also take place during school hours.

3. After the treatment, the dentist returns the student card or the school dental care booklet to the school community.

1. The School Dentist shall annually submit a report in accordance with the directives of the School Community.

1. The Pedagogical Universities are responsible for the training of teachers in school dental care.

1. The Education Council provides courses on school dental care as part of teacher continuing education.

1. The courses are prepared by the cantonal School Dental Care Commission, ordered by the Education Council, and incorporated into the teacher training program.

1. It is expected that the school dentist and the prophylaxis assistant shall update their knowledge in accordance with the latest developments in dentistry through regular continuing education.

1. The Government Council issues a tariff for school dental examinations and treatments.

1. The school district shall bear the costs of the annual dental examination if it is conducted by a school dentist.

1. The parents bear the treatment costs.

1. The school community grants the parents a cost approval for the treatment if

a) the parents submit the request for cost approval before the beginning of the treatment;

b) the parents are unable to sufficiently or timely cover the treatment costs from their own resources;

c) a school dentist performs the treatment.

2. The provisions of the Social Assistance Act of September 27, 1998, apply accordingly to the assumption of treatment costs by the school community and the reimbursement.

1. The Ordinance on Dental Care in Primary Schools of April 24, 1956, is repealed.

1. This regulation shall be applied from the beginning of the 1982/83 school year.