Yolo County will offer free dental exams, dental sealants, fluoride varnish, and oral health education for youth ages 0 to 20 at a back to school fair on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 8 a.m. to noon at River City High School, 1 Raider Lane, in West Sacramento. Families do not need insurance, income proof, or school enrollment to take part, but Yolo County residency and, for minors, parental consent are required, and pre-registration is requested by calling 1-888-585-3368.
The clinic is run by the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency Oral Health Program together with Smile Dental Services, which brings mobile dental equipment on site, and Kaiser Permanente. It lands in the exact window when pediatric dentists say a prevention visit does the most good, right before the school year starts. Below is what will be offered, why the two headline services, sealants and fluoride varnish, matter so much for young teeth, and how to lock in a spot.
What free dental services are available at the July 25 fair?
Youth attending the West Sacramento fair can receive a dental exam, dental sealants, fluoride varnish, oral health education, and referrals for any follow up care, along with free toothbrushes, toothpaste, and educational materials to take home. The event serves anyone ages 0 to 20 who lives in Yolo County, with proof of residency required and a parent or guardian needed to consent for minors.
These are the same preventive services a child would normally receive in a private dental office, delivered at no cost through a mobile setup. For a family without a regular dentist, a fair like this is often the first stop, and the referral piece matters because it connects children who need fillings or specialty care to a longer term dental home.
Key facts and numbers
- Dental sealants prevent 80 percent of cavities in the back teeth over two years, and those back teeth are where 9 in 10 cavities occur, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2024).
- School age children without sealants have almost 3 times as many cavities in their first molars as children who have them, yet only 42 percent of children ages 6 to 11 currently have sealants (CDC, 2024).
- A 2025 systematic review of 14 randomized trials covering 13,263 children found fluoride varnish cut the risk of new cavities to a risk ratio of 0.79, roughly a 21.7 percent event rate with varnish versus 27.9 percent without (Almalki et al., Cureus, 2025).
Why do sealants and fluoride varnish matter so much for kids?
Sealants and fluoride varnish are the two most cost effective ways to stop cavities before they start, which is why free fairs lead with them. A sealant is a thin protective coating painted onto the chewing surface of a back tooth, and fluoride varnish is a quick coat that strengthens enamel across the whole mouth. Both are painless, take minutes, and need no drilling or numbing.
The public health math is striking. The CDC estimates that applying sealants to the roughly 7 million low income children who lack them could save up to 300 million dollars in dental treatment costs. Cavities remain the most common chronic disease of childhood, and untreated decay causes missed school days, trouble eating, and pain that pulls down grades and sleep.
How strong is the evidence behind school based prevention?
The evidence for delivering fluoride varnish and sealants outside a traditional office, in schools and at community fairs, is solid and growing. The 2025 Cureus review pooled eight trials with 11,130 participants and found the preventive benefit held up across six continents and a range of study designs.
"School based FV delivery systems are feasible," wrote lead author Amjad S. Almalki and colleagues, adding that the "preventive impact of FV was strong, despite differences in study designs."
That backs up a long standing CDC position that school based sealant programs prevent cavities and pay for themselves in avoided treatment. The catch, as an earlier JAMA analysis we covered showed, is that these programs often miss the children who need them most. One time fairs like the July 25 event help fill that gap by meeting families where they already are, at a back to school fair.
How can families register and prepare?
Pre-registration is requested and can be done by calling 1-888-585-3368 or using Yolo County's online booking system. Bring proof of Yolo County residency, and a parent or guardian must be present to give consent for any child under 18. There is no charge, no insurance requirement, and no income check.
A fair visit is a strong start, but pediatric dentists recommend every child have an ongoing dental home for twice yearly checkups. Families outside the Yolo County service area can find a local children's dentist in our directory, such as Super Kids Dental in Riverside, California, and use the July fair season as a prompt to book that first or next appointment. For a wider look at no cost options this summer, see our roundup of free back to school dental events opening for families in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the free dental care at the West Sacramento fair?
Any youth ages 0 to 20 who lives in Yolo County is eligible, with proof of residency required. There is no income, insurance, or school enrollment requirement, and a parent or guardian must consent for anyone under 18.
What should we bring on July 25?
Bring proof of Yolo County residency and, for minors, a parent or guardian to sign consent. Pre-registration by phone at 1-888-585-3368 or online is requested to reserve a spot.
Are dental sealants and fluoride varnish safe for young children?
Yes. Both are routine, painless preventive treatments endorsed by the CDC and pediatric dental groups. Sealants coat the chewing surface of back teeth, and fluoride varnish strengthens enamel, with no drilling or numbing needed.
What if my child needs more than a checkup?
The fair provides referrals for follow up care, so children who need fillings, extractions, or specialty treatment can be connected to a dentist for ongoing care.
Updated July 2026. Sources: Yolo County press release, CDC dental sealant fast facts, and Almalki et al., Cureus (2025).
