ASTDD Policy

ASTDD is the principle voice in promoting the leadership capacity of state dental programs and the impact that their collective oral disease prevention and health promotion activities have on the nation’s oral health. 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 develops and adopts a variety of policy documents including issue briefs, position papers, policy statements and resolutions to reflect the Association’s priorities and stance on dental public health issues.

The Policy Committee's function is to oversee the creation of policy statements on various issues for submission to the membership for approval. The committee will utilize the resolutions of the Association insofar as possible, taking into consideration that the resolutions date back to the very beginning of the organization, and while some are still valid, many no longer apply. Additionally, the environment and the issues have changed over time.

Policy Committee Members

Policy Committee Logic Model

Listed below are the definitions for the various policy actions:

Issue Brief – An issue brief is a concise summary that outlines key findings, implications or significance, and policy considerations of a specific policy issue.

Position Paper – A position paper is a detailed report or major documentation and analysis of a broad policy issue on which the organization should take a position.  It may recommend a course of action on a particular issue.

Policy Statement – A policy statement represents the organization’s official stand on an issue.

Resolution – A resolution is a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent; a consensus of opinion used to stimulate support further action.  Resolutions may be policy or non-policy in nature.

Policy Resolution – A policy resolution is a concise statement of the organization’s stance on specific issues affecting the oral health of the public.  It may inform, exhort, show support (or lack of support) for programs or legislation, or describe a course of action

Non-policy resolution – A non-policy resolution is a concise statement on non-policy matters, such as the commemoration of a specific event. A non-policy resolution could be the support for a specific public health event or letters or support for the significant event.

Policy Statements

Community Water Fluoridation (April 2009)

Fluoride Varnish (April 2010)

Issue Briefs

Fluoride Varnish: An Evidence Based Approach (September 2007)

Health Reform The Dental Public Health Infrastructure (April 2009)

State Dental Laws on Dental "Screening"  for School Age Children (October 2008)