Letter from the Dental Director

Dear friends,

As we embrace the summer season, we celebrate the graduation of new dental hygiene and dental medicine professionals, whose fresh perspectives will be invaluable to our workforce and communities.

While recent months have brought policy and fiscal challenges for public health, they have also highlighted our oral health network’s resilience. We remain committed to our shared mission, ensuring that evidence-based interventions continue to reduce and prevent dental diseases and improve health outcomes across Colorado. We are dedicated to promoting these interventions to prevent tooth decay, improve health outcomes, and reduce unnecessary costs for families and Medicaid alike. We are working together across the oral health network on strategies to remove the barriers to access that Colorado families face, especially those living in dental professional shortage areas.   

The Oral Health Unit (OHU) recently showcased our collaborations and integrated care efforts at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association Integrated Care Summit and the National Oral Health Conference. We are proud to recognize 23 water treatment plants for their fluoridation efforts in 2025. Furthermore, we have awarded funding to nine local public health agencies across 19 counties. These partnerships will support community oral health needs assessments and help guide the future implementation of oral health integration strategies in high-need areas. Congratulations to our awardees:

• Archuleta County Public Health Department
• Broomfield Public Health and Environment
• Chaffee County Public Health
• Garfield County Public Health (Garfield and Pitkin counties)
• La Plata County Public Health Department (La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties)
• Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department (Las Animas and Huerfano counties)
• Northeast Colorado Health Department (Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma counties)
• Rio Grande County Public Health Agency
• Silver Thread Public Health District (Hinsdale and Mineral counties)

Thank you for your partnership in promoting oral health. Whether we are integrating care, supporting access to preventive services, or bolstering the next generation of oral health professionals, our impact is amplified by working together. We look forward to our continued collaboration throughout the summer and beyond.

With Gratitude,

Jenni and the OHU

Jenni Lansing, CPH, MPH, MBA, RDH

State Dental Director 

News & Hot Topics

New Colorado Cancer Plan Released

The Colorado Cancer Coalition (CCC) recently released the 2026-2030 Colorado Cancer Plan. The Plan is a roadmap to reduce the burden of cancer from prevention, to screening and early detection, to survivorship. It outlines eight bold goals to reduce cancer risk and improve care statewide. 

Free Resources for Non-Oral Health Professionals

The FDI World Dental Federation developed infographics for other healthcare professionals. These fact sheets offer oral health guidance and information for non-dental professionals. Available topics include an overview of the relationship between oral and systemic diseases, oral hygiene, oral health and pregnancy, oral health for children and older adults, periodontal disease, tooth decay, and tobacco use and oral health. The fact sheets are available in English, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. 

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Launches New Foundation

The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) launched the ASTDD Foundation, Inc., a new philanthropic 501(c)(3) organization, on April 10th. The ASTDD Foundation will expand support for oral health programs and strengthen oral health infrastructure nationwide. Visit the ASTDD Foundation website to learn more. 

American Cancer Society Virtual State Engagement HPV Summit

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is hosting a Virtual State Engagement Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Summit July 21-23. The 2026 Summit will bring together ACS staff, state coalitions, public health leaders, Medicaid and payer partners, and other key partners from across all states to share strategies, strengthen collaboration, and support action-oriented progress. The meeting will be held from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m MST via Zoom. Read the ACS save the date announcement to learn more about and register for the 2026 Virtual HPV Summit.

Resource: HRSA Oral Health Education Resources 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) developed public-facing oral health literacy resources. The A Healthy Mouth for Every Body campaign offers a variety of materials for several different audiences to help individuals take good care of their oral health. 

Stories from the field

Practice-Based Health Education Grantee Spotlight – Denver Health Dental Assistant Training Program

The Practice-based Health Education (PBHE) Grant continues to make a meaningful impact in Colorado communities by supporting programs that strengthen the health care workforce and improve access to care. Beyond helping patients, these efforts are also creating opportunities for people pursuing careers in health care.

Denver Health’s Dental Assistant Training Program is one example of this work in action. The six-month program provides students with a living wage while they complete their training, helping remove financial barriers that often make education difficult to access. The program has supported students from many backgrounds, including first-generation Americans, single parents, and those living in multi-generational households.

Through hands-on training in Denver Health’s brand new, state-of-the-art facility and rotations across seven dental clinics, students gain real-world experience and valuable skills to prepare them for careers in oral health.

The support does not stop at graduation. Program staff work closely with students to connect them with job opportunities within Denver Health clinics, and many graduates have continued to advance in their careers as dental assistant leads, dental hygienists, and mentors for future students. 

Court of Appeals Overturns 2024 Court Order Directing EPA to Regulate Fluoride in Drinking Water

In May, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturned the 2024 lower court order that had directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate fluoride in drinking water under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Read more about this decision and next steps in the American Dental Association’s May 22 press release. New studies continue to show that fluoride in water is safe and healthy. It helps children and adults avoid tooth decay and saves money for the state and communities. Learn more on the Campaign for Dental Health blog post. 

Updated HPV Public Service Announcement Videos

In collaboration with the HPV Vaccination Task Force and the Colorado Cancer Coalition, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) developed two public service announcement videos about the safety and benefits of HPV vaccination. The videos feature an oral health champion and a cervical cancer survivor’s perspective, and provide an overview of the current HPV vaccine recommendations and the role of HPV prevention as a cancer-reducing strategy.

The videos are currently available in English on the CDPHE PSA YouTube page and have been recently updated to incorporate Spanish subtitles.

Partner Links

Upcoming Community Strategy Session on Aging Veterans and Oral Health

The American Institute on Disparities in Public Health (AIDPH) and the Colorado Oral Health Coalition will be hosting a community strategy session on aging veterans in Colorado. Learn more about AIDPH’s recent efforts and the initial data findings of aging veterans in Colorado and give feedback and input for potential strategies to support oral health access and care for veterans. Materials and information related to these efforts are available in this shared folder. 

The strategy session will be held on Monday, June 29 (12-1 pm) via Zoom. Please register for the AIDPH session.  

Immunize Colorado to Convene Virtual Focus Groups to Support SB 25-194 Implementation

Immunize Colorado, a nonprofit organization working to protect Colorado families, schools and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases, has received a grant from Delta Dental to evaluate the implementation of Senate Bill 25-194, which allows dental providers in Colorado to administer oral health and respiratory vaccines to patients ages 6 and older.

Immunize Colorado plans to survey dental providers across the state on their knowledge of the bill and the potential facilitators and barriers to administering vaccines in their practice. In preparation for this, Immunize Colorado is looking for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental therapists to participate in a virtual focus group to help review and refine the survey.

If you are interested in participating in a virtual focus group with Immunize Colorado, please fill out this focus group interest form by Friday, July 3rd. The focus groups are planned for the week of July 27-31, and participants will receive a $25 gift card as compensation for their time.

Questions can be directed via email to either Bennett Nye or Sarah Waraniak.

Prenatal, Infant, Toddler

Cavity Free at Three Training at Colorado Mountain College Dental Hygiene Program

The OHU would like to thank the Colorado Mountain College Dental Hygiene Program for allowing the Cavity Free at Three (CF3) team to visit their program in Edwards and train their first cohort of dental hygiene students in CF3. This cohort of nine students graduated in May. We would also like to give a special thank you to Laura Jacob, the program director and CF3 Master Trainer, for coordinating and leading the training with students. 

Resource: Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care Resource Guide 

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center recently updated their resource guide on integrating oral health care into primary care settings. This guide now features materials developed from 2021 through 2025. 

Colorado Featured in New Maternal and Child Oral Health Report

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center recently released a new report providing an overview of the Maternal and Child Health—Improving Oral Health Integration program. The included projects integrate preventive oral health care into primary care to increase access to care for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women, including those with special health care needs. It features profiles for each participating project, including Colorado. 

Free Perinatal Oral Health ECHO Series

Rutgers University is offering a free Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Series on Dental Care in Pregnancy. The Series includes eight sessions and provides free continuing education credits for health care professionals. Sessions are open to all and held virtually on Tuesdays beginning March 31st through June 30th.

School-Age

Resource: National HPV Vaccination Roundtable Action Guide and Colorado-specific Resources

The American Cancer Society (ACS) National HPV Vaccination Roundtable developed a Cancer Prevention Through HPV Vaccination: An Action Guide for Oral Health Professionals. The ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable is a national coalition of more than 100 organizations working to improve HPV vaccination rates and prevent HPV-related cancers. The guide provides updated trends on oropharyngeal and HPV-positive cancers, best practices to promote and implement cancer prevention and vaccine counseling in dental settings, statements from oral health professional organizations on HPV vaccination, and available resources to support staff and patient education and strong vaccine recommendations. 

In Colorado, the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado (The Alliance) is a statewide collaborative focused on increasing HPV vaccination rates among 9 to 17-year-olds. The Alliance is led by the Public Health Institute at Denver Health. Members include local public health agencies, immunization coalitions, and community members. With input from community members and health care professionals, The Alliance has created various resources to support medical, dental, and pharmacy providers in improving HPV vaccine uptake and administration. Resources, including trainings, communication materials, and a public facing HPV Vaccination Dashboard, are available at HPVFreeCO.org.

As a result of Colorado’s new legislation that expands dental scope of practice to include vaccination in 2026, The Alliance is partnering with Dr. Jessica Jack and the Synergizing Shots and Smiles program to develop a comprehensive HPV vaccination toolkit to support dental providers in becoming vaccinators. The toolkit includes provider training on vaccine counseling and hesitancy, patient education materials, and guidance on vaccine administration, storage, and billing. Development of the toolkit was informed by a community advisory panel (consisting of caregivers and their adolescents ages 9-17), and a dental advisory panel (dental sites participating in toolkit implementation) to ensure cultural relevance and practicality. Learn more about the work of Synergizing Shots and Smiles or email the Shots and Smiles project team.

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