Dental Public Health Policy Committee
ASTDD is the principal voice in promoting the leadership capacity of state and territorial oral health 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 and territorial oral health programs (S/TOHP). ASTDD develops and adopts a variety of documents including policy statements, white papers, issue briefs and other dental public health resources documents to reflect the Association's priorities and stance on dental public health issues. These documents contain statements that may include recommendations, strategies, and/or information to assist decision makers (such as healthcare providers, federal, state or private agencies, employers, public health officials, or the public) in choosing between alternative courses of action in specific situations. The Dental Public Health Policy Committee's function is to oversee the creation of resource documents on various issues for the membership and stakeholders.
NOTE: Prior to December 2015, this Committee was called the Policy Committee and its documents were known as policy statements. Between January 2016 and April 2019, the Committee was called the Dental Public Health Resources Committee, and the documents produced during that time were White Papers. These document names will not change. Note that some of the supporting documents listed below retain their titles referencing "resources" to reflect ASTDD's intent to provide resources to its membership and stakeholders.
2022 Dental Public Health Policy Committee Annual Report
ASTDD Guidance for Drafting Dental Public Health Resource Documents - ASTDD has developed this guidance document to encourage consistency in developing evidence-based statements (such as policy statements, white papers, issue briefs, fact sheets and other documents as well as Best Practice Approach Reports and State Activity Submissions and Descriptive Reports by all ASTDD committees, consultants, and others including dental public health residents. ASTDD develops these resource documents for S/TOHPs to reflect the Association's priorities and stance on dental public health issues and to share with and educate decision makers on dental public health issues and concerns of S/TOHPs. The documents contain statements that may include recommendations, strategies, and/or information to assist decision makers (such as dental and other healthcare providers; federal, state or private agencies; employers; public health officials or the public) in choosing between alternative courses of action in specific situations.
Dental Public Health Policy or Resources Statement Development Protocol
Policy Statement or Resources Statement Review Form
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)
Listed below are definitions for committee actions
Dental Public Health Policy Statement - A Policy Statement provides detailed background information and analysis of a broad policy-related issue through documenting and summarizing key findings and implications of appropriate evidence-based research and best practices, and may offer a statement of support and or recommendations for a course of action.
Issue Brief - An issue brief is a summary that outlines and discusses key findings, implications or significance, and programmatic considerations of a specific dental public health issue. It is usually longer and explores an issue in greater depth than a policy statement.
Dental Public Health White Papers and Policy Statements
- Community Water Fluoridation (June 2015)
- Dental Amalgam (December 2010) This policy statement has been archived and will not be updated.
Dental Amalgam Annotated Bibliography (November 2010) This bibliography has been archived and will not be updated. - Dental Amalgam and Resin-Based Composites: Environmental and Health Impacts (Aug 2023)
- Dental Public Health Residencies White Paper (September 2016) This policy statement has been archived and will not be updated.
- Dental Sealants and Bisphenol A (February 2011) This policy statement has been archived and will not be updated.
- Early Childhood Caries (June 2012)
- First Dental Visit by Age One (August 2012)
- Fluoride Toothpaste (January 2016)
- Fluoride Supplements (January 2013)
- Fluoride Varnish (December 2015)
- Healthy People 2030 (July 2021)
- Healthy People 2020 Oral Health Leading Health Indicator (March 2014) This policy statement has been archived and will not be updated.
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Oropharyngeal Cancer (July 2017)
- Improving Oral Health Access and Services for Older Adults White Paper (February 2018)
- Integrating Oral Health Education into Health Education Curricula in Schools (August 2013)
- Integrating Oral Health into the Whole School Whole Community Whole Child School Health Model (Sept 2015)
- Integrating Oral Health with Primary Health Care (December 2016)
- Opportunities for Improving Oral Health and Chronic Disease Program Collaboration and Medical-Dental Integration (October 2018)
- Perinatal Oral Health (February 2020)
- Preventing Tobacco Use and Eliminating Exposure to Secondhand Smoke (March 2013)
- Promoting Antibiotic Stewardship In Dentistry (April 2020)
- Promoting Good Nutrition and Healthy Eating in Schools (January 2021)
- Reducing Emergency Department Utilization for Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions (January 2020)
- Reducing Opioid Prescribing by Oral Health Professionals (September 2021)
- School-Based Fluoride Mouthrinse Programs (March 2011) This policy statement has been archived and will not be updated.
- School-Based or School-Linked Mobile or Portable Dental Services (February 2012)
- School Dental Sealant Programs White Paper (November 2017)
- Social Determinants of Health and Improving Oral Health Equity (March 2023)
- State-Based Oral Health Surveillance Systems (December 2022)
- State Oral Health Program Infrastructure and Capacity (May 2013)
- Sugar Sweetened Beverages (April 2019)
- Teledentistry: How Technology Can Facilitate Access To Care (March 2019)
Issue Briefs
- Fluoride Varnish Issue Brief (September 2014) This issue brief has been archived and will not be updated.
- Improving the Oral Health of Pregnant Women and Young Children: Opportunities for Policymakers (August 2012)
- Mobile and Portable School-Based/School-Linked Oral Health Programs: Delivery Models to Expand Care for Children and Adolescents Issue Brief (August 2023)
- State Dental Laws on Dental "Screening for School Age Children (October 2008)
- State Dental Screening Laws for Children: Examining the Trend and Impact (Updated by the Children's Dental Health Project in January 2019)
Links and Resources
Compendium of ASTDD Dental Public Health Resource Documents for State Oral Health Programs (April 2023)
Guidelines for the Development of State Oral Health Issue Briefs - questions to ask, major components of an issue brief, and lessons learned.
Using Oral Health Data to inform Decisions and Policy Development The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors developed this resource to provide tips for the use and presentation of complex oral health data so that the information is understandable and meaningful for a non-dental audience. It also provides a list of resources ranging from a communications toolkit to developing a "plain English" document. (March 2019)
Temple University, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Oral Health Advocacy Toolkit for Dental Schools and Dental Hygiene Programs - The toolkit provides content to improve oral health advocacy skills of not only students but also practicing dental professionals.
American Academy of Pediatrics
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Oral Health Initiative works to address oral health issues through developing training materials, providing communication outlets and developing educational programs.
- The AAP Oral Health Resource section of the Web site offers a variety of policy statements relating to oral health.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) develops policies and guidelines and advocates for programs that promote optimal oral health and health care for infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs. The Web site contains a section on definitions, oral health policies and clinical guidelines.
American Dental Association
- The Advocacy section on the ADA Web site provides information on federal and state legislation and regulation, issues and actions.
The American Public Health Association
- The American Public Health Association (APHA) works to advance the health of all people and all communities. As the nation's leading public health organization, APHA strengthens the impact of public health professionals and provides a science-based voice in policy debates too often driven by emotion, ideology, or financial interests. APHA is at the forefront of efforts to advance prevention, reduce health disparities, and promote wellness.
- APHA has 32 sections that represent major public health disciplines or public health programs, including one for Oral Health.
- A number of APHA policy statements address specific health issues, often within specific populations. APHA's policy statement on Access to Integrated Medical and Oral Health Services, issued in November 2016, addresses the problem of poor access to medical, oral, and behavioral health care services among persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
- The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) formulates and influences sound public health policy and ensures excellence in state-based public health practice. The members of ASTHO serve as the face and voice of state and territorial public health. The website contains a section on Policy and Advocacy with sections on Federal Government Affairs, State Health policy, and links to ASTHO's policy and position statements.
- ASTHO Oral Health Policy Statement - ASTHO identifies oral health as a priority and supports integrated and adequately resourced state and territorial oral health programs to improve health, eliminate disparities, and reduce costs.
- ASTHO Oral Health White Paper - This white paper is a companion to ASTHO's Oral Health Policy Statement and provides additional background and evidence on oral health.
Children's Dental Health Project
- Policy Consensus Tool Guidebook - The Children's Dental Health Project (CDHP) and the Division of Oral Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborated to develop a facilitated consensus-building process for stakeholders. More than 20 states have used the Policy Consensus Tool to:
- Enhance strategic thinking about oral health in the state
- Strengthen communication among oral health advocates by encouraging an exchange of views, while providing a path to consensus
- Support a process for identifying and prioritizing policy issues
- Encourage transparency in obtaining and aggregating stakeholder input
- Enhance implementation and evaluation of the State Oral Health Plan
- Understanding the Policy Consensus Tool
Contact the ASTDD Central Office to inquire about using the tool to convene policy consensus-building sessions guided by trained facilitators.
Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Division of Oral Health works to prevent and control oral diseases and conditions and reduce disparities by building the knowledge, tools and networks that promote healthy behaviors and effective public health practices and programs. The Division provides training, resource development and technical assistance to states to improve oral health. CDC supports research to examine prevention strategies to assess effectiveness and efficiency and collects data to monitor oral health.
Healthy People 2030
Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) sets data-driven national objectives to improve health and well-being by 2020. Every decade, Healthy People makes changes based on years of feedback from a diverse group of individuas and organizations, For HP 2030, the biggest challenge is a reduced number of objectives. With fewer objectives, there is less overlap and more prioritizing of the most pressing public health issues - making it easier to find relevant objectives. A new tool labels each HP 2020 objective as retained (with data that can be compared across decades), modified, related, or removed, and directs users to any similar objectives in HP 2030.
National Academy for State Health Policy Oral Health
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is an independent academy of state health policymakers working together to identify emerging issues, develop policy solutions, and improve state health policy and practice. NASHP provides a forum for constructive, non-partisan work across branches of state government on critical health issues facing states. This link goes direcetly to the Home/Policy page and a 2009 post but using the Publications/Blog/Reports tab and filtering by "Oral Health" will bring up more recent posts; a section of this website is dedicated to oral health issues providing a variety of reports and policy options.
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a bipartisan organization working to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures, promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures, and ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. NCSL publishes policy statements on a variety of issues, including oral health.
National Maternal and Child Health Oral Health Resource Center
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center responds to the needs of states and communities in addressing current and emerging public oral health issues 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.
