Hong Kong’s Department of Health will launch its Preschool Children Oral Health Outreach Programme on 1 September 2026, with 680 kindergartens already agreeing to take part by 23 August. The participating schools represent 71.7 per cent of all kindergartens, while the scheme is expected to cover more than 110,000 eligible children.
The department has appointed 23 designated service providers to send outreach teams to participating kindergartens. Each eligible pupil can receive an oral examination and oral-health risk assessment at school once a year. Reports describe the eligible age range differently, as children aged at least 32 months or roughly three to six years.
The preventive services will include fluoride treatment where needed. Children without tooth decay may receive sodium fluoride, while those with decay may receive silver diamine fluoride, according to reports on the department’s arrangements.
For children with tooth decay, service providers will give parents individualised oral-care advice and a report or related health information. Children with oral infections, swollen gums or other needs may be referred for further care.
The reports differ on the cost of referral arrangements: one says a referral service may be provided free once, while another says parents are responsible for charges after referral. They agree that parents must pay for further treatment beyond the referral service.
Parents will apply through their child’s kindergarten. Schools will distribute and collect consent forms and oral-health risk assessment questionnaires. RTHK also reported that outreach teams would provide free dental health talks for teachers.
By 23 August, service providers had contacted 890 of the city’s 949 kindergartens, with 680 agreeing to participate. The Department of Health said it would continue contacting schools that had not joined; reasons for non-participation included existing similar arrangements, relocation, suspension of operations or closure.
The department currently has no plan to add more service providers and said the 23 providers cover all 18 districts. The programme is due to begin on 1 September, although the final number of participating kindergartens and children remains to be established.