Mouth and throat diseases ranging from cavities to cancer cause pain and disability for millions of Americans. Older Americans and low-income children are especially hard hit by oral health problems. In both cases, the lack of adequate oral health can add significantly to state health and human service costs.

For the elderly, tooth decay can lead to nutritional problems.  For low-income kids, untreated cavities can escalate into more serious health problems and reduce a child's capacity to succeed later in life.

Among other efforts, states are exploring new programs to apply dental sealants in school settings and enhance community-based screening and prevention.  School-based dental sealant programs and community water fluoridation both prevent tooth decay and are cost effective solutions.

Best Practice Approaches

Proven and promising best practice approaches for state and community oral health programs from the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD).  

Catalyzing Improvements in Oral Health Care

The Center for Health Care Strategies highlights six states' programs to reduce disparities and improve quality in oral health services.

Community Health Resources

Learn more about oral health initiatives in CDC's Community Health Resources, including fact sheets, state and local program contacts, communication materials and state data.

Using Sound Science to Prevent Chronic Disease: State Policy Implications

This TrendsAlert describes 20 key proven strategies to prevent chronic diseases and promote good health. It also explores factors—such as insurance coverage and low health literacy—that affect the use of proven interventions.  It reveals how policymakers can prevent significant costs and illness by acting decisively to employ underutilized prevention strategies.

Protecting Precious Smiles: How States Prevent Oral Diseases and Curb Costs

Three-fourths of American children are affected by tooth decay by age 17. Of adults aged 20 years and older, 87 percent to 93 percent of them will also experience tooth decay. However, oral disease can be prevented and interventions should extend to all age and sociodemographic groups. The preventable consequences of oral disease are the focus of several state oral health programs. Click the link above to read the issue brief and find out how states partner with private organizations on oral health issues in this archived Web conference.   

Improving Children's Oral Health through School-based Dental Sealant Programs

Learn more about school-based dental sealant programs from Christine Wood, oral health program manager, Nevada State Health Division. This summer she addressed state legislators on the topic at CSG's Healthy States Summit in San Francisco, July 17-19, 2006.