Six Questions with Jenni Lansing, State Dental Director
Jenni Lansing, MPH, MBA, RDH
December 2025
Hi Jenni! Congratulations! How are you feeling about your new role?
Thank you! It’s an honor to serve as the new state dental director for Colorado. I’ve always connected with the work of the state Oral Health Unit (OHU), which strives to prevent oral disease and increase access to care for all Coloradans. I’m excited to bring my enthusiasm for and experience with preventive oral public health to this long-standing role.
Tell me a little about yourself – What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
My interest in the dental profession started at a very young age. I dressed up as my dental hygienist for Kindergarten career day, and later worked part-time at my childhood dental office. I’m grateful that so many individuals supported this interest and helped cultivate an appreciation for the profession, which has only grown over time.
What was the path you took to get here?
After earning a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, I worked clinically for about 10 years. During this time, I completed a dual master’s in public health and business administration. I also gained additional experience as a clinical and didactic dental hygiene instructor. My passion for oral public health led me to the OHU in 2017.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide range of partners and across many programs and initiatives. These programs and initiatives promote optimal oral health at every stage of life and improve overall health for all Coloradans. My work has focused on advancing health and well-being through collaboration with local, state, and national organizations. Together, we work to integrate oral health disease prevention and chronic disease initiatives and strengthen the oral public health workforce.
You have such great and varied experiences. What are the major things you’ll bring to your new role?
I’m looking forward to continuing to elevate the critical role public health plays in maintaining the health and safety of Coloradans. The state dental director position is an essential component of oral health efforts throughout the state. As part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Health Access Branch, the OHU and the oral health network have made great progress in supporting communities with the greatest oral health needs. I look forward to building on that foundation and working with our team and the oral health network to keep improving oral health across Colorado—using evidence-based prevention, system-level approaches, and the Framework to Advance Oral Health Equity in Colorado.
As a team, the OHU envisions an oral health landscape that supports evidence-based strategy implementation at the local, state, and national levels. We picture this coordinated effort supporting improved health outcomes and integrating oral health into other health strategies and initiatives in Colorado. We know that working collaboratively makes a real difference. By continuing to work together, we can strengthen the impact of the oral health network and improve oral health outcomes, which ultimately makes a positive impact on the everyday lives of the people of our state.
What lessons have you learned from your work life?
Both my personal and professional experiences have shown me how powerful connection and community can be. Life brings many challenges and changes, which can be difficult to face as individuals. When we build relationships and find common ground—even when we don’t always agree—we create a network that lifts each other up, offers support, and helps us better meet the needs of Coloradans.
On a high level, what do you see ahead for Colorado’s oral public health landscape?
That is such a great and tough question because the OHU and oral health network in Colorado are involved in so many meaningful efforts! A few examples that immediately come to mind that I see continuing include efforts to strengthen cross-sector collaborations, relaunch a statewide oral health coalition, and strengthen the existing workforce. I also see Colorado continuing to champion safe and effective preventive oral health strategies, including fluoride and dental sealants.
I believe strongly that everyone should be able to access the care they need to be their healthiest selves. Yet, many Coloradans continue to experience great barriers to accessing oral health care, including provider availability, transportation challenges, and treatment costs. The OHU is committed to building on community connections and established partnerships to address these needs, advance oral disease prevention efforts, and improve health outcomes for all. Also, we’re excited to continue promoting oral health and oral public health professions, while offering our support to the next generation of Colorado’s oral health professionals.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions, Jenni! We look forward to hearing more from you!