About
The national nonprofit membership organization and the national voice for people who work in, support, and advance State and Territorial Oral Health Programs.
Who
We Are
Organized in 1948, ASTDD is an affiliate of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and is dedicated to maintaining a robust governmental oral health presence across every state, territory, and community. Through partnerships, leadership, technical assistance, resources, learning networks, and conferences, ASTDD equips members with the tools needed to shape meaningful oral health policy, design and implement prevention-focused programs, and elevate oral health in broader public health systems.
What
We Do
ASTDD strengthens the oral health workforce and advances the field by developing evidence-informed, data-driven resources, convening networks and conferences, and fostering collaboration. In this way, ASTDD serves as the national backbone for governmental oral health infrastructure by connecting members and partners, supporting peer learning, and fostering collaboration across public health, dental public health, and health care systems.
“Leadership is not measured by the plans we create, but by the people we empower, the partnerships we build, and the lasting impact we make together.”
Matthew Zaborowski
Executive Director, ASTDD
Our Mission
ASTDD provides strategic and meaningful support to those who lead, empower, promote, and advance State and Territorial Oral Health Programs (S/TOHPs).
Our Vision
Strong, effective, and inclusive governmental oral health systems in every state, territory, and community that ensure integrated, optimal oral health for all through evidence-informed policies and practices.
How We Work
ASTDD advances its mission by engaging members, strengthening capacity, aligning systems, and advancing collective impact. In practice, this includes:
Technical Assistance
Delivering targeted technical assistance and capacity-building to S/TOHPs.
Convening Partners
Convening national, state, territorial, and cross-sector partners to align oral health strategy.
Evidence & Tools
Developing evidence-informed tools, policy guidance, and data resources.
Leadership Pipelines
Strengthening leadership pipelines and workforce development.
What Guides Us: Core Values
Collaboration
Working together across members, programs, partners, and sectors to advance shared goals.
Connection
Building trusted relationships that support learning, problem-solving, and collective actions.
Empowerment
Supporting members and leaders with the tools, confidence, and opportunities needed
to lead.
Integration
Advancing oral health as an essential part of overall health and public
health systems.
Accountability
Stewarding resources responsibly, measuring progress, and learning
from results.
Our History & Key Milestones
About State and Territorial Oral Health Programs
State and Territorial Oral Health Programs (S/TOHPs) are governmental public health programs, offices, units, or functions within U.S. state and territorial health agencies that are responsible for assessing, promoting, protecting, and improving the oral health of the populations they serve. S/TOHPs provide leadership for population-based oral health efforts and may conduct or coordinate activities such as surveillance and assessment, policy development, prevention and health promotion, access-to-care initiatives, workforce development, partnerships, program implementation and evaluation, and integration of oral health across public health systems. They often convene, facilitate, and provide the leadership necessary to collaborate with partners, stakeholders, community members, advocates, and champions to assess, promote, and advance oral health throughout their jurisdiction.
ASTDD and the ASTDD Foundation
