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The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) is a national non-profit organization representing the directors and staff of state public health agency programs for oral health. It was organized in 1948 and is one of 17 affiliates of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). ASTDD formulates and promotes the establishment of national dental public health policy, assists state dental programs in the development and implementation of programs and policies for the prevention of oral diseases; builds awareness and strengthens dental public health professionals' knowledge and skills by developing position papers and policy statements; provides information on oral health to health officials and policy makers, and conducts conferences for the dental public health community.

A strong and effective governmental oral health presence in states and territories to assure optimal oral health.

ASTDD provides leadership to:

advocate for a governmental oral health presence in each state and territory,
increase awareness of oral health as an important and integral part of overall health,
address health equity,
promote evidence-based oral health policy and practice, and
assist in the development of initiatives to prevent and control oral diseases.

The ASTDD Membership consists of the chief dental public health officer (state dental director) of the state health department or equivalent agency, and the U. S. Territories. ASTDD also offers Individual or Organizational Associate Membership which is open to any public agency, voluntary organization, tribal entity and/or health professionals employed or interested in dental public health. Members and Associate members serve on and chair committee's or work groups, receive the ASTDD newsletter, are enrolled on the ASTDD list serve, and participate in the ASTDD Annual Business Meeting held in conjunction with the annual National Oral Health Conference. Individual Associate member dues are $75.00 per year. Organizational Associate Membership dues are $400 per year.

Apply online for ASTDD Membership

ASTDD Key Messages

State Oral Health Programs make an essential contribution to public health and must be continued and enhanced. Resources to Support ASTDD Key Messages.

1. A successful SOHP must have diversified funding that includes funding for state and local evidence-based programs.
2. A successful SOHP needs a continuous, strong, credible, forward-thinking leader.
3. A successful SOHP needs a complement of staff, consultants and partners with proficiency in the ASTDD Competencies for SOHPs.
4. A successful SOHP needs one or more broad-based coalitions that include partners with fiscal and political clout.
5. A successful SOHP must have valid data (oral health status and other) to use for evaluation, high quality oral health surveillance, a state oral health plan with implementation strategies, and evidence-based programs and policies.

Announcements, Publications & Documents

Navigating the ASTDD Website: This 10 minute tutorial provides tips on how to navigate the ASTDD website more efficiently and productively.
PowerPoint
Oral Health Matters - The winter 2018 edition of the ASTDD newsletter; meet members and associate members, check out state shots, and much more. (March 2018)
What is the Defining Line Between Policy and Advocacy? - Has your program engaged in a discussion about how to "move the dial" in your state and then worried about what you can and cannot do to elicit changes? In this session, Ms. Nicole Johnson, CDC Division of Oral Health Associate Director for Policy, Partnerships, and Strategic Communications, describes CDC's view of health policy, both formal and informal; and discusses the difference between providing education, policy development, and lobbying. She walks the audience through the federal language that addresses lobbying restrictions and explains what it means. Ms. Johnson also provided the audience with CDC resources that support policy development to promote health. (June 2018)
PowerPoint
ASTDD 2017 Annual Report
ASTDD Awards Brochure 2018
Oral Health Educational Resources for Home Visitors and Families: Environmental Scan: 2018 Update The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Early Childhood Oral Health Committee, Home Visiting Subcommittee, conducted an environmental scan to identify oral health educational resources for home visitors and the families they serve. The environmental scan also addresses gaps in existing oral health resources and opportunities to promote oral health in home visiting programs. (April, 2018)

2019 National Oral Health Conference
April 15-17, 2019 | Memphis, TN

2018 NOHC Sponsors
Thank you!

Platinum Sponsor:

Aseptico

Gold Sponsors:

American Dental Association

Silver Sponsors:

For Additional information visit the NOHC Website

Advertising on ASTDD's website does not imply an endorsement by ASTDD of a company's products or services.

Fluoride Varnish Program Report and Fluoride Varnish Program Catalog - The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) is pleased to share the results of the survey of the school-based fluoride varnish programs (children 6-17 years old) operating in the U.S in 2015-2016. In addition to the description of the survey, we were able to create a catalog of fluoride varnish programs by state. We found that responders defined fluoride varnish programs differently and we were not able to clearly identify programs that offered only fluoride varnish. We also identified states that did not answer in the affirmative while incorporate fluoride varnish into existing school-based programming. The number of programs and contacts may have changed since the survey was conducted. Please send any additions, corrections or other clarifications directly to our consultant, LeeAnn HoaglinCooper. The complete survey questions and responses are available to ASTDD members in the Members Only section of the ASTDD website. (October 2017)