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ORAL HEALTH

The following links are provided for informational use to the users of this directory.  The links do not constitute an endorsement of any organizations.  The Office of Minority Health is not responsible for the content of the individual organization’s web pages found at these links.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

American Association of Public Health Dentistry

Founded in 1937, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) provides a focus for meeting the challenge to improve oral health. AAPHD membership is open to all individuals concerned with improving the oral health of the public.  Its broad base of membership provides a fertile environment and numerous opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experiences. During the past decade, many enthusiastic persons have joined AAPHD, increasing its influence and effectiveness. Improvements in the oral health of the U.S. population have been much heralded in recent years. However, these gains have eluded many of the most vulnerable people - those for whom public health personnel often have special concern - in the U.S. and other countries.

 

Contact Information

National Office
3085 Stevenson Drive, Suite 200
Springfield, IL 62703
217.529.6941
Fax: 217.529.9120

Website: http://www.aaphd.org/default.asp?page=about.htm

 

 

American Dental Association (ADA)

The ADA is the professional association of dentists committed to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement; leading a unified profession through initiatives in advocacy, education, research and the development of standards.

 

Contact Information

American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
312.440.2500

Website: http://www.ada.org/ada/about/index.asp

 

 

American Dental Hygienists' Association

ADHA is the largest professional organization representing the dental hygiene profession. Dental hygienists support the health and well being of the American public through oral health promotion, education, prevention, and therapeutic services.  Dental hygienists provide oral health expertise in a variety of care settings such as private dental offices, school-based dental clinics, hospitals, community health centers, correctional institutions, and nursing homes. The American Dental Hygienists' Association is actively involved in the dialogue regarding public health policies and programs in America. Because public health approaches consider the entire population, they focus on problems that present the largest burden within the community; concentrate resources on interventions with strong evidence of effectiveness (i.e., “the greatest good for the greatest number”); include collaboration with multiple community partners; and evaluate the impact of programs on the population’s health.

Contact information
444 North Michigan Avenue

Suite 3400

Chicago, IL 60611
312.440.8900
Fax: 312.467.1806
Website:
 http://www.adha.org

 

 

American Public Health Association (APHA)

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. Members of the Oral Health Section of APHA are one of the 24 Sections that APHA members can choose to join. The Oral Health Section's members seek to promote oral health to a larger, multidisciplinary audience, partner with other human service providers, integrate oral health with overall health, have input into environmental and health care delivery issues, and disseminate research findings to the largest possible audience.

 

Contact Information

Website: http://www.apha-oh.org/

 

 

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)

A strong and effective governmental oral health presence in states and territories to assure optimal oral health. ASTDD provides leadership to advocate a governmental oral health presence in each state and territory, to formulate and promote sound oral health policy, to increase awareness of oral health issues, and to assist in the development of initiatives for prevention and control of oral diseases. This website has been designed to serve as a comprehensive source of information for members, associate members, policymakers, oral health and public health professionals, other health care professionals, academicians, students and the general public. A variety of tools and links can be found to help visitors understand the breadth and scope of oral health programs administered by our members. 

 

Contact Information

105 Westerly Rd
New Bern, NC 28560
252.637.6333
Fax: 252.637.3343

Website: http://astdd.org/

 

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Oral Health Resources

Division of Oral Health

CDC, as the sentinel for the health of people in the United States and throughout the world, strives to protect people’s health and safety, provide reliable health information, and improve health through strong partnerships. CDC′s Mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.


Contact Information

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS F-10
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717
770.488.6054
Website:
http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/index.htm

 

 

Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP)

The Children's Dental Health Project advances policies that improve children's access to oral health. CDHP’s vision is to provide equity in children's oral health. The Children's Dental Health Project forges research-driven policies and innovative solutions by engaging a broad base of partners committed to children and oral health.

 

Contact Information

Children's Dental Health Project
2001 L Street, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036

Website: http://www.cdhp.org/

 

 

 

Joint Center Health Policy Institute

The Joint Center Health Policy Institute (HPI) is the principle program of the Joint Center Office of Health, Women and Families. The HPI was operationally launched in 2003 with a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The Foundations' purpose was to enable the Joint Center to build a health policy institute that would facilitate the participation of “neglected” or “unheard” voices in health policy debates and that would improve the health of underserved and diverse people by supporting national partners in efforts to help communities inform policy and practice food health.

 

Contact Information

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Health Policy Institute
1090 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005-4928
202.789.3500
Fax: 202.789.6385

Website: http://www.jointcenter.org/new_site/index.htm

 

 

 

National Dental Association

The mission of the National Dental Association is to represent the concerns of ethnic minorities in dentistry, to elevate the global oral health concerns of underserved communities, to enhance educational and financial opportunities, and public policy awareness, for its members, and to recruit underrepresented minorities into the profession through advocacy and mentorship.

 

Contact Information

3517 16th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20010 
202.588.1697

Fax: 202.588.1244

Website: http://www.ndaonline.org/mission.asp

 

 

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

The mission of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is to improve oral, dental and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information.  We accomplish our mission by: Performing and supporting basic and clinical research; Conducting and funding research training and career development programs to ensure an adequate number of talented, well-prepared and diverse investigators; Coordinating and assisting relevant research and research-related activities among all sectors of the research community; Promoting the timely transfer of knowledge gained from research and its implications for health to the public, health professionals, researchers, and policy-makers.

 

Contact Information

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892-2190
301.496.4261

Website: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/SpecialCareResources/SpecialCareinOralHealth.htm

 

 

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC)

The purpose of the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) is to respond to the needs of states and communities in addressing current and emerging public oral health issues. OHRC supports health professionals, program administrators, educators, policymakers, and others 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. A fact sheet describing the services of the resource center is available.

 

Contact Information

Georgetown University

Box 571272

Washington, DC 20057

202.784.9771

Fax: 202.784.9777

Website: http://www.mchoralhealth.org/

 

 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)

HRSA's oral health programs promote improved dental health and access to dental care for low-income children, individuals with special health care needs, and people living in medically underserved areas. You can view information about any publication by clicking on the publication title.

 

Contact Information

HRSA Information Center
P.O. Box 2910
Merrifield, VA 22116
888.ASK.HRSA
TTY/TTD: 877.4TY.HRSA
Fax: 703.821.2098

Website: http://ask.hrsa.gov/OralHealth.cfm

 

 

World Health Organization (WHO)

Global Oral Health Programme (ORH)

The objectives of the WHO Global Oral Health Programme (ORH), one of the technical programmes within the Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion (CHP), have been reoriented according to the new strategy of disease prevention and promotion of health. Greater emphasis is put on developing global policies in oral health promotion and oral disease prevention, coordinated more effectively with other priority programmes of CHP and other clusters and with external partners.

 

Contact Information

Avenue Appia 20
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
 +41.22.791.3475
Fax:+41.22.791.4866

Website: http://www.who.int/oral_health/en/

 

 

STATE-LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS

 

Florida Dental Association

The Florida Dental Association is a statewide, professional membership organization representing Florida-licensed dentists. FDA members are committed to protecting the health and well-being of people of all ages. The FDA was established in 1884 to ensure that patients received the highest quality of care from dental professionals. With a statewide membership of over 7,000 Florida-licensed dentists, the FDA represents about 75 percent of all licensed dentists in Florida.

 

Contact Information

1111 E. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32308-6914

800.877.9922 or 850.681.3629
Fax: 850.561.0504

Website: http://www.floridadental.org/index.html

 

 

Florida Department of Health

Bureau of Dental Health

Public Health Dental Program

Provides a state focus for the control and prevention of oral diseases and provides policy direction for oral health issues. Promotes the development of cost-effective preventive programs and works to reduce inequities with regards to access to dental health care. Monitors state, federal and local oral health status, dental treatment needs and the utilization of dental health services. Evaluates county health department dental health programs and provides technical assistance, administrative and quality assurance guidance. Monitors the development of school based programs; conducts needs assessments, inputs county health department dental health service data into the statewide information management system. Promotes and implements community water fluoridation for eligible communities and operates a fluoridation surveillance system. Provides funding assistance for the installation and upgrading of fluoridation systems; develops and monitors fluoridation contracts; provides technical assistance and prepares quarterly fluoridation reports.  In addition, conducts statewide promotional activities to increase access to community and school-based preventive programs and primary-care services. Programmatic monitoring, data collection and analysis, and technical assistance are provided to county health department dental programs and emergency dental treatment referral projects. A fluoridation grant which assists in funding for start-up and chemical costs for community fluoridation systems is administered by this program. Monitoring of water systems for optimal fluoride levels is also conducted.

 

Contact Information

4025 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, FL 32311

850.245.4333
Fax: 850.414.7552

Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/fdhdescription.html

 

 

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

Dental Project

The main focus of this project was to develop and test a model to recruit licensed oral health professionals to become Medicaid Waiver providers, provide clinical and sensitivity training and develop a networks in communities around Florida.  This project was very successful because we were able to obtain the support of state agencies, the Florida Dental Association, The Florida Hygiene Association and partner with the two dental schools in Florida.   In the first year, through this project we recruited approximately 110 oral health professionals and served over 100 individuals with developmental disabilities.  To build on this success we are continuing to train and recruit and will serve over 1000 individuals this year and increase our recruitment of oral health professionals statewide.  Through information and education, we continue to increase our network and provide much needed services to hundreds of individuals with developmental disabilities in Florida.

 

Contact Information

124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850.488.4180
800.580.7801
TDD Toll Free: 888.488.8633
Fax: 850.922.6702

Website: http://www.fddc.org/ACTIVITIES/index.asp

 

 

NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS

 

American Dental Education Association (ADEA)

ADEA is the premier association serving the predoctoral, postdoctoral, and allied dental education community. ADEA provides advocacy, professional development, and a wealth of expert information and resources. We address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the improvement of public health.

 

Contact Information

American Dental Education Association
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202.289.7201
Fax: 202.289.7204

Website: http://www.adea.org/

 

 

International Association For Dental Research

To advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health worldwide. To support and represent the oral health research community. To facilitate the communication and application of research findings.

 

Contact Information

1619 Duke Street

Alexandria, VA 22314-3406
703.548.0066

Fax: 703.548.1883

Website: http://www.iadr.com/

 

 

National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health

The National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health provides national leadership to the maternal and child health community in three key areas--program development, education, and state-of-the-art knowledge--to improve the health and well-being of the nation's children and families. This guide points to high-quality resources that analyze data, describe effective programs, and report on policy and research aimed at improving access to and the quality of oral health for children and adolescents. Separate sections identify resources on specific aspects of oral health including dental sealants, early childhood caries, fluoride varnish, Head Start, child care, school-based education, and school-based care. The final section lists oral health resources for consumers.

 

Contact Information

Georgetown University

Box 571272

Washington, DC 20057

202.784.9771

Fax: 202.784.9777

Website: http://www.ncemch.org/

 

 

Oral Health America

Oral Health America was founded in 1955 as the "American Fund for Dental Health" by members of the American Dental Association, American Dental Education Association, the American Dental Trade Association, and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company to raise funds for the improvement of dental education. In 1994, Oral Health America broke away from its founding institutions to follow a path of broad-based public advocacy through targeted programs and communications efforts to improve oral health for all Americans. Oral Health America develops, implements, and facilitates educational and service programs designed to raise awareness of oral health's importance to total health.

 

Contact Information

410 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 352

Chicago, IL 60611

312.836.9900

Fax: 312.836.9986

Website:  http://www.oralhealthamerica.org/whoweare.html

 

 

U.S. National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.

 

Contact Information

8600 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20894

Website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dentalhealth.html

 

 

RESEARCH-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

 

Forsyth Institute

Recognizing that overcoming oral health problems would only come from understanding their cause, Forsyth created its Research Institute in 1962 to study the underlying causes of oral disease and develop treatments that would lead to prevention and cure. Since that time, Forsyth's research enterprise has grown into a significant effort with over $12M in Federal funding in FY2003.

At Forsyth, basic laboratory scientists interact with clinically oriented investigators in all phases of discovery, clinical evaluation, and application. This integrated, interdisciplinary approach has resulted in Forsyth's leadership in caries and periodontal disease research over the past three decades. During the past decade, the scope of our work has broadened, and today seeks not only to prevent and treat oral diseases, but also to extend and apply the knowledge gained to diseases that affect the entire body. This synergy between oral and systemic health was perhaps best espoused by former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop - "you are not healthy without oral health."

 

Contact Information

140 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-3799
Phone: 617.262.5200
Fax: 617.262.4021

Website: http://www.forsyth.org/forsyth.asp?pg=100103

 

 

Indiana University

School of Dentistry

The only dental school in the Hoosier state, Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) offers an extraordinary learning environment in which teaching, research, and community service come together in the best way possible for the preparation of tomorrow’s dental professionals. IUPUI shares its location on the near west side of the city with the Indiana University Medical Center, one of the finest teaching and research centers in the world. Many of the dental school’s faculty members have established strong collaborative ties with physicians and other scientists in the medical center facilities, which are just across the street from the school.

IUSD is one of the oldest dental schools in the nation. It got its start as the Indiana Dental College in 1879 and was acquired by Indiana University in 1925. In 1933, IU built a facility to house the school at its current site. Today this sprawling, five-story edifice is composed of the original building plus two major additions -- the first addition was constructed in 1962 and the second a decade later.

 

Contact Information

317.278.3290

415 Lansing St.
OH 108
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317.278.3290

Website: http://www.iusd.iupui.edu/depts/PCD/research_programs.htm

 

 

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Health Disparities Program

The Health Disparities Research Program responds to the growing awareness that despite improvements in some oral health status indicators, the burden of disease is not evenly distributed across all segments of societies. The program supports research that explores the multiple and complex factors that may determine oral and craniofacial health, diseases, and conditions in disadvantaged and underserved populations. These factors may include proteomic, genetic, environmental, social and behavioral aspects and how they influence oral health singly or in combination. This cross-cutting program funds a full spectrum of scientific approaches designed to describe, understand, reduce and ultimately eliminate oral and craniofacial diseases and conditions in disadvantaged and underserved populations.

 

Contact Information

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892-2190
301.496.4261

Website: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/Extramural/ClinicalResearch/HealthDisparitiesProgram.htm

 

 

Oral Health Network (OHN) Coordinating Center

The Oral Health Network (OHN) Coordinating Center (hereafter referred to as OHN Center) provides a forum and network for Prevention Research Centers (PRC) and oral health researchers to build an ongoing, sustainable network that encourages and enhances community-based oral health research. The OHN Center's primary research priority will be to fund mini-grants that emphasize participatory research, multilevel and ecological research, and cross cutting research, as well as addressing Healthy People 2010 oral health objectives, and the recommendations from the Surgeon General's report on oral health. The OHN Center mini-grant application process focuses on integration of community-based oral health research into existing and ongoing PRC projects. The mini-grant process also provides a mechanism for pilot projects, which may strengthen future applications for private or public funding of oral health research. The OHN Center's goal is three fold: 1) integration of community-based oral health research with the individual PRC's research agenda, 2) enhance the collaboration among PRCs, state health departments, schools of dentistry, and other disciplines (i.e., social sciences), and 3) enhance the PRC's visibility as a resource in developing and implementing applied, community-based oral health research.

 

Contact Information

Florida Prevention Research Center

4809 E. Busch Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33617

813.983.3216

Fax: 813.983.3217

Website: http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/prc/oral_net/index.html

 

 

University of Florida

College of Dentistry

The College is nationally recognized for its oral health research enterprise, emphasizing infectious diseases in dentistry, bone biology, pain and neurosciences, and translational research to improve clinical dental care. This research excellence resulted in the college being ranked No. 7 among 56 U.S. dental schools in federal funding in 2005, and research initiatives represent the college’s close alignment to Health Science Center and university initiatives in the areas of genomics of infectious diseases, immunology, autoimmunity, biostatistics, cancer epidemiology and prevention, cell biology/cell signaling, and pain and neurosciences.

 

Contact Information

University of Florida College of Dentistry

P.O. Box 100405

Gainesville, FL 32610

Website: http://www.dentalmuseum.org/touchscreen/U%20Florida/intro.cfm

 

 

 

University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester Training Program for Oral Health Clinical Research

The program emphasizes the fundamental aspects of oral and dental biology, oral microbiology, salivary research, and craniofacial development. A strong feature of the program is the interdisciplinary collaborative nature of the training environment designed to encourage interaction among the dental trainees and the strong cadre of biomedical and social scientists.

 

Contact Information

University of Rochester School of Medicine
Bursar’s Office, Box 601
601 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14642-8601

Website: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/research/

 

 

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The Web-Based Resource Directory was funded by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health through its State Partnership Grant Program.

Disclaimer: OMH does not endorse or recommend the associations, coalitions, foundations and/or organizations listed in this directory. The links are provided for educational and informational use only. OMH is not responsible for the content of the individual organization’s web pages found at these links. The directory's content displays the best effort to provide accurate information. Please check with the individual organizations for the most-up-to-date information. This directory is a not a complete list of minority health resources. OMH encourages consumers to explore resources that may not be included in this directory.