Public Health Resources

FDA Issues Recommendations for Certain High-Risk Groups Regarding Mercury-Containing Dental Amalgam   - The FDA has found that certain groups may be at greater risk for potential harmful health effects of mercury vapor released from the device. As a result, the agency is recommending certain high-risk groups avoid getting dental amalgam whenever possible and appropriate.

State Levers to Support Dental Care in COVID-19’s Public Health and Economic Emergency   - COVID-19 has greatly impacted dental care and oral health access in the United States. From closed offices to an increased need for personal protective equipment (PPE), states and providers are both facing challenges to connect patients to dental care. With reduced tax revenue and looming budget crises, states are also facing difficult budget decisions – despite the knowledge that dental benefits can lead to health care savings. As states confront these challenges, they are using innovative solutions, such as teledentistry, to support providers and connect patients with dental care. (National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP))

American Association for Community Dental Programs   - AACDP supports the efforts of those with an interest in serving the oral health needs of vulnerable populations at the community level. Members include staff of city, county, and community-based health programs with an interest in oral health issues and access to care.

American Association of Public Health Dentistry   - Founded in 1937, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) provides a focus for meeting the challenge to improve oral health. AAPHD membership is open to all individuals concerned with improving the oral health of the public.

American Dental Association (ADA)   - The not-for-profit American Dental Association is the nation's largest dental association that works to advance the dental profession on the national, state and local level. The ADA is committed to its members and to the improvement of oral health for the public. (American Dental Association)

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)   - National non-profit organization representing the directors and staff of state public health agency programs for oral health.

Centers for Disease Control: Division of Oral Health   - The CDC's Division of Oral Health (DOH) works to improve the oral health of the nation and to reduce inequalities in oral health. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)

HRSA: Oral Health   - HRSA works to improve the oral health of underserved people by exploring ways to improve access to oral health care, increase awareness of the connection between oral health and overall health, promote prevention, and improve oral health literacy to health providers and patients alike. (Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS)

Hispanic Dental Association   - The Hispanic Dental Association is the only national organization of dental professionals dedicated to promoting and improving the oral health of the Hispanic community and providing advocacy for Hispanic oral health professionals across the United States.

IHS Dental Portal   - The purpose of the Dental Portal is to have one place where staff who work in Indian healthcare can locate essential resources to support to the operation of effective clinical and community dental programs. (Indian Health Service (IHS))

NRHA National Rural Oral Health Initiative   - The National Rural Oral Health Initiative is the combined effort of the National Rural Health Association and the DentaQuest Foundation to improve oral health disparities in rural America through policy, communications, education and research. (National Rural Health Association (NRHA))

National Dental Association   - The mission of the National Dental Association is to represent the concerns of ethnic minorities in dentistry, to elevate the global oral health concerns of underserved communities, to enhance educational and financial opportunities, and public policy awareness, for its members, and to recruit underrepresented minorities into the profession through advocacy and mentorship.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)   - The mission of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is to improve oral, dental and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information. (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH)

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center   - The purpose of the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) is to respond to the needs of states and communities in addressing current and emerging public oral health issues. OHRC supports health professionals, program administrators, educators, policymakers, and others with the goal of improving oral health services for infants, children, adolescents, and their families. The resource center collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies; national and state organizations and associations; and foundations to gather, develop, and share quality and valued information and materials.

National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA)   - NNOHA's mission is to improve the oral health of underserved populations and contribute to overall health through leadership, advocacy, and support to oral health providers in safety-net systems.

Oral Health Workforce Research Center   - The goal of OHWRC is to provide timely, accurate data and conduct policy relevant research to assist in future health workforce planning. (State University of New York, University at Albany, School of Public Health)

Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC)   - OHWRC is based at the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) at the School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York. OHWRC provides timely, accurate data and conducts policy relevant research to assist in future health workforce planning. (State University of New York, University at Albany, School of Public Health)

Public Health Foundation (PHF)   - Dedicated to achieving healthy communities through research, training, and technical assistance. For more than 35 years, this national, non-profit organization has been creating new information and helping health agencies and other community health organizations connect to and more effectively use information to manage and improve performance, understand and use data, and strengthen the workforce.

Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)   - The Society of Public Health Education (SOPHE) is an independent, international professional association made up of a diverse membership of health education professionals and students. The Society promotes healthy behaviors, healthy communities, and healthy environments through its membership, its network of local chapters, and its numerous partnerships with other organizations.

Tribal Oral Health Initiative   - Initiative to explore solutions and develop recommendations to address oral health disparities and lack of access to oral health treatment and prevention services in Indian Country. (National Indian Health Board)

Dental Public Health Listserv   - Email list to facilitate discussion of issues relating to Public Health as it relates to dental issues. The list is limited to public health professionals and policy makers interested in dental issues. This list is not affiliated with any professional organization or group. (University of Pittsburgh)

OHRC Electronic Lists and Newsletters   - Email lists and electronic newsletters related to oral health. (National Maternal and Child Health Oral Health Resource Center)

American Dental Association: Accreditation Standards for Dental Public Health   - Detailed accreditation standards for institutions with a dental public health program. The standards were updated in 2014.

Oral Health Information Tutorial   - This tutorial focuses on improving access to and awareness of reliable information resources, as well as integrating the best evidence from these resources into public health dental practice and educational activities. (University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio)

Smiles for Life Oral Health Curriculum   - The Smiles for Life curriculum consists of eight 45-minute modules covering core areas of oral health relevant to health professionals, including child oral health, adult oral health, pregnancy, and geriatric oral health. (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM))

AAPD Foundation Grants   - Grants support community-based initiatives to provide dental care for underserved/limited access children. (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry)

AHRQ's Grants On-Line Database   - Searchable database of grants funded by AHRQ. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS)

American Dental Association Charitable Assistance Grant Program   - The ADA Foundation has several grants available for dental professionals and others. (American Dental Association)

American Dental Hygienists' Association Institute for Oral Health   - The American Dental Hygienists' Association Institute for Oral Health offers grants for research and community service.

Clinical Research to Improve the Oral Health of Older Adults (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)   - Funding to stimulate exploratory or developmental research that can help to inform future, targeted interventions to address risk factors, access barriers, oral health promotion and disease prevention strategies, and clinical management of dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) diseases associated with aging. (National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS)

Community Response Fund   - DentaQuest's Community Response Fund supports small, one-time grants that address access to oral health care. (DentaQuest Institute)

Dental Reimbursement Program   - The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part F Dental Reimbursement Program (DRP) improves access to oral health care services for low-income, uninsured and underserved people living with HIV (PLWH) and trains dental and hygiene students and dental residents to deliver dental care to PLWH. The DRP accomplishes this by defraying a portion of unreimbursed dental care costs for low-income, uninsured, and underserved PLWH incurred by accredited dental or dental hygiene education programs recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. (Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS)

Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Open Opportunities   - Comprising six bureaus and 12 offices, HRSA provides leadership and financial support to health care providers in every state and U.S. territory. HRSA grantees provide health care to uninsured people, people living with HIV/AIDS, and pregnant women, mothers and children. They train health professionals and improve systems of care in rural communities. (Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS)

Improving oral health and reducing disparities in adolescents (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)   - The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate research to improve the oral health of adolescents in the United States, and to reduce observed oral health disparities and inequities in this population. This FOA defines adolescents as those individuals between the ages of 10 and 19. (National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS)

Improving oral health and reducing disparities in adolescents (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)   - The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage exploratory or developmental research to improve the oral health of adolescents in the United States, and to reduce observed oral health disparities and inequities in this population. This FOA defines adolescents as those individuals between the ages of 10 and 19. (National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS)

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) - Grants and Funding   - NIDCR is the nation's leading funder of oral, dental, and craniofacial research. (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH)

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Availability of Urgent Competitive Revisions and Administrative Supplements for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Research within the Mission of NIDCR   - National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight the urgent need for research on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). NIDCR will place a high priority on topics that would be of immediate and high impact to protect and ensure the safety of personnel and patients in dental practices. These topics include prevention of SARS-COV-2 transmission and improvements in the detection and diagnosis of COVID-19; as well as acquisition of a more robust understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Further, topics addressing influence and interaction of sex (a biological variable) and gender (a social construct), race and ethnicity, and those addressing questions about risk, prevention, and health outcomes are also of interest. (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH)

Oral Health Grant Program   - The objectives of the Delta Dental of Missouri Grant Program are to: reduce oral disease through education, prevention and treatment, ensure access to affordable, timely and high-quality dental health care, enhance the awareness of good oral health with a focus on children, the indigent, and other underserved populations, make a measurable difference in the oral health of Missourians, with an emphasis on underserved populations, and ensure that Missouri is among the states with the highest indicators of oral health.

AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange - Dental Health Care   - Innovations and quality tools to develop oral health education, prevention, and treatment programs. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS)

Bright Futures Toolbox   - This toolbox highlights materials that advance the Bright Futures philosophy of promoting and improving the oral health of infants, children, and adolescents. (National Maternal and Child Health Oral Health Resource Center)

Community Water Fluoridation Communications Toolkit   - NACCHO's new Community Water Fluoridation Communications Toolkit has resources to help local health departments and other organizations educate and inform their communities about the benefits of fluoridation. (National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO))

Dental Devices   - This site includes FDA's public health notifications, advice for patients, and related consumer health information on dental devices. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HHS)

Health Reach: Dental Care Resources   - Oral hygiene and dental health resources for patients and consumers in multiple languages. (National Library of Medicine (NLM), NIH)

MedlinePlus - Child Dental Health   -

MedlinePlus - Dental Health   -

MedlinePlus - Mouth and Teeth Topics   - Consumer health information from MedlinePlus on topics related to the mouth and teeth.

Mouth Healthy   - A consumer site from the American Dental Association with information on habits, concerns, and nutrition for all life stages. (American Dental Association)

My Water's Flouride   - My Water's Fluoride (MWF) allows consumers to learn about the fluoride level in their drinking water. Also, you can find out the number of people served by the system and the water source. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)

NIDCR (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - Oral Health Information   - Oral health information for the consumer from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH)

Oral Health in Rural Communities   - Resources, organizations, funding, and news about rural oral health. (Rural Health Information Hub)

SmileConnect   - An online portal to connect children in need to available health resources. (Altarum Institute)

The Oral Health Website   - Website aims to help communities, governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and private businesses start or enhance community-based oral health programs for older adults. Site includes a searchable database of community-based oral health programs and an oral health guide: The Community Guide to Adult Oral Health Program Implementation. (Administration for Community Living (ACL), HHS)

ADA Health Policy Institute   - The Health Policy Institute (HPI) aims to be a thought leader and trusted source for critical policy knowledge related to the U.S. dental care system. HPI achieves this by generating, synthesizing, and disseminating innovative research on a variety of topics that are relevant to policy makers, health care advocates, and providers within the U.S. dental care system. (American Dental Association)

ASTDD Dental Public Health Resources Committee   - ASTDD works with a broad array of federal, state and local public and private partners to educate decision-makers on dental public health issues and concerns of state oral health programs. ASTDD policy documents include issue briefs, position papers, policy statements and resolutions to reflect the Association's priorities and stance on dental public health issues. (Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors)

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry   - The mission of the AAPD is to advocate policies, guidelines and programs that promote optimal oral health and oral health care for children. The AAPD serves and represents its membership in the areas of professional development and governmental and legislative activities.

National Center for Fluoridation   - NCF was created to provide information within that network of scientists, educators, public officials, organizational representatives, and media concerned about the availability of reliable, timely, and scientifically-based information about community water fluoridation.

National Conference of State Legislatures: Children's Oral Health   - The National Conference of State Legislatures was founded in 1975 with the conviction that legislative service is one of democracy's worthiest pursuits. NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. (National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL))

Oral Health - Health Coverage and Access   - Resources including briefs, toolkits, reports, and case studies that explore innovative strategies that states have developed to address access to oral health services. (National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP))

Preventing Tooth Decay   - Strategies and policies to prevent tooth decay. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)

Public Health Law Research: Oral Health   - Evidence briefs that summarize the evidence supporting the effectiveness of laws and policies to ensure oral health and hygiene. (Public Health Law Research)

Compendium of Rural Oral Health Best Practices (2020)   - Compendium represents some of the most innovative models and programs to tackle dental health issues in rural communities. (National Rural Health Association (NRHA))

Addressing Oral Health in Health Policy   - Pre-recorded presentation from January 2017 describes how oral health should be integrated into health policy decision-making and research, how oral health issues are addressed in federal/state policies, and what challenges, methods, and best practices will most improve access to oral health care. (AcademyHealth)

American Association for Community Dental Programs - annual symposium   - The annual symposium is held as a pre-conference session to the National Oral Health Conference. The National Oral Health Conference is sponsored by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Oral Health Conference   - The National Oral Health Conference is sponsored by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors)

FASTSTATS: Oral and Dental Health   - FASTSTATS provides statistics from the nation's principal health statistics agency, National Center for Health Statistics.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) - Data and Statistics   - NIDCR supports the collection of statistics to document oral, dental, and craniofacial conditions and assess oral health trends in the United States. (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH)

National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS)   - NOHSS is a collaborative effort between CDC's Division of Oral Health and the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD). It is designed to monitor the use of dental health care, oral disease, and the status of community water fluoridation.

Oral Health Data   - The Oral Health Data website contains data for indicators from the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS), Water Fluoridation Statistics biennial reports, and the annual Synopses of State Oral Health Programs. National and state-level data are provided for all indicators. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS)