Who We Are

Established in 1943, the Oral Health Section has a proud history of oral public health achievements.

Oral Health Section goals:

• Promote the importance of oral health.
• Increase access to oral health preventive and treatment services.
• Monitor and disseminate information about the oral health needs of the public.

Current Activities:

• Advancing the integration of oral health and chronic disease prevention and management.
• Promoting multidisciplinary collaboration with non--oral health professionals to broaden knowledge through the development of joint scientific sessions.
• Promoting fluoridation initiatives at the national level.
• Supporting health care reform that will improve access to oral health prevention and care for the under-served, uninsured and those with special health care needs.
• Developing and promoting policies to improve the public's oral health and overall health.  Recent examples include policies on community water fluoridation, fluoride varnish, dental health therapists and third molar extractions.