Colorado Oral Health News – Winter 2025: National Children’s Dental Health Month!

Letter from the Dental Director
Hello Friends,
We at the Oral Health Unit (OHU) hope that you are having a great start to the new year. We are excited to kick off 2025 with National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, a national health observance that promotes awareness of children’s oral health and emphasizes oral health education. The American Dental Association (ADA) has released several educational materials including posters, flyers, and a program planning guide to help with coordination of activities during this month. You can find these materials on the ADA’s website.
We know that despite being preventable, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, and is significantly more common than asthma, obesity, and diabetes. Promoting good oral health habits and educating families and children is integral in preventing the potential lifelong consequences of poor oral health. Beginning in 2023, the OHU and several other community partners worked with Rocky Mountain PBS (RMPBS) to provide input on a children’s oral health campaign that provides valuable educational resources. A three-year campaign, funded by Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, has aired several videos on RMPBS to teach children about their oral health, offer activities encouraging good habits, and games to help them practice healthy routines. You can view these educational resources at the RMPBS website. Even more videos and activities are planned for 2025!
Partners all across the state are also promoting children’s oral health. The Regional Oral Health Specialists (ROHS) and safety-net clinics that serve rural areas of Colorado continue to provide education and preventive oral health services. Some are finding innovative ways to address oral health concerns including expanding preventive oral health services to include Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) application and implementing telehealth appointments for oral health education for families.
The OHU continues to implement SB24-142, Oral Health Screenings in Schools Pilot Program. The pilot program seeks to provide oral health screenings to kindergarten and third-grade students in at least five schools to demonstrate the effectiveness of oral health screenings and determine best practices for scaling such a program state-wide. The Colorado Department of Education is notifying school superintendents and school nurses about the program and the application process. Schools can use the screening pilot interest form to apply to participate or request more information. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis until we have chosen at least five schools that meet the eligibility criteria set forth in the legislation, including a lack of previous oral health screenings, and type and location of the school. For more information, please see the outreach letter or email Robyn Maestas at robyn.maestas@state.co.us.
As many of you know, there has been considerable interest in community water fluoridation. The OHU has received multiple inquiries about this important public health intervention. CDPHE’s developed statement on community water fluoridation is now available online. Contact cdphe.psfluoridationsmf@state.co.us for questions about water fluoridation.
We at the OHU are committed to continue supporting improvements in oral health through prevention and education. You can view all of our available resources and trainings at ColoradoOralHealth.org.
Sincerely,

Maryam Mahmood DMD, MPH
State Dental Director
News and Hot Topics
Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Offers Free Continuing Education
The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention is hosting a live lunch and learn webinar for oral health professionals on February 5th (12 pm – 1 pm). The webinar, ‘2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guidelines: Prescribing Opioids for Oral and Dental Pain’, is available for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Attendees will:
- Examine opioid prescribing patterns among dentists and the association between prescribing rates, the development of an opioid use disorder, and opioid overdose deaths;
- Explain the disease of chronic pain, pain modulation, and the role of endogenous opioids and endorphins in pain and opioid use disorders; and
- Delineate alternatives to opioid prescribing that decrease acute pain levels in dental procedures.
The webinar will be recorded and made available for on-demand credits. Visit the registration link to participate.
CDPHE State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan
Every five years, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) collaborates with partners across the state to assess the status of Colorado’s public and environmental health and identify health and environmental priorities for the next five years. This work results in a state health assessment (SHA) and state health improvement plan (SHIP). Assessment and planning are best practices in public health and are also required by the 2008 Public Health Act and the national Public Health Accreditation Board. CDPHE and partners have recently completed the 2023 SHA, published last fall.
Read the 2023 State Health Assessment report.
View the 2023 State Health Assessment dashboard.

Following the 2023 SHA, CDPHE has spent the past year working with both internal and external subject matter experts to develop the 2025-2029 SHIP. The plan will be released in the spring of 2025 and outlines action plans and measurable indicators for the following priority areas:
- Air Quality
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Communicable Disease Control
- Healthy Eating and Active Living
- Gun Violence Prevention
- Suicide Prevention
- Substance Use Prevention
- Governmental Public Health Transformation
Check out the Office of Public Health Practice, Planning, and Local Partnership’s State Assessment and Planning webpage for more information or subscribe to the Office’s newsletter for updates on the upcoming 2025-2029 SHIP.
Stories from the Field
Practice-Based Health Education Grant Program Spotlight
With the changing landscape of the health care workforce and access to health care services in Colorado post-pandemic, it was evident that new strategies and initiatives were needed to meet the health needs of all Coloradans. In order to promote equitable access to care among historically marginalized communities, rural populations, and individuals living in health care shortage areas, collaboration among varying sectors needed to occur to grow the health care workforce. This idea created Senate Bill 22-226, better known as “Health-Care Workforce Resilience and Retention Program.”
A key component of this initiative is the Practice-Based Health Education (PBHE) Grant Program, aimed at expanding hands-on training opportunities for health profession students in Colorado. The program provides funding to health programs across the state, helping students gain the practical skills needed to meet degree and licensure requirements. Currently, 23 programs are supported, offering training for doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, EMTs, dental assistants, dentists, and many other health professionals.
PBHE not only helps students complete their clinical training but also addresses the health care workforce shortage by increasing the number of qualified professionals. By offering real-world training, the program enhances workforce retention, preparing students for long-term success in their careers and contributing to a stronger, more sustainable health care system in Colorado.
For more information about PBHE, please visit the PBHE website.

Valley-Wide Health Systems, serving rural Southern Colorado, has brought on their first Endodontist. Pictured here, the Endodontists is teaching dental and dental assistant students in the clinic, while treating community members.
Colorado Health Service Corps Futures Program Seeking Participants
The Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) Futures Program is a six-month program that pairs aspiring health care professionals with experienced mentors in the field, offers insights into careers in the safety net system and the value of health equity, and outlines the steps to becoming a CHSC clinician. Participants will engage in monthly discussions covering topics that build a foundation for impactful careers in underserved areas. The program is designed to guide and support the next generation of health care professionals who are passionate about serving Colorado’s underserved communities.
CHSC Futures Program mentor and mentee recruitment is currently open. There are several ways to get involved:
- Invite Us for a Presentation
- In partnership with the Colorado Community Health Network and the National Health Service Corps, we can deliver a student presentation about the program and loan repayment opportunities available.
- Provide Opportunities for Mentees
- Site visits, apprenticeships, or volunteering as a guest speaker can greatly enhance our participants’ experiences.
- Volunteer for the Mentorship Program
- Former CHSC and Dental Loan Repayment Program recipients are welcome to sign up to mentor the future generation of the CHSC.
- Join our Mailing List
- To stay informed about the program and its happenings, fill out your information and be kept in the loop about the CHSC Futures Program.
Organizations interested in supporting this effort can complete this Partner Interest Form. Please feel free to review and share the CHSC Futures Program flyer and additional informational material. If you have questions or need additional information, please email Alyssa Collado (alyssa.collado@state.co.us).
Partner Links
AAP Guidance on SDF
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently released Guidance on the Application of SDF in Pediatric Medical Setting. This guidance provides information on how to successfully start providing SDF treatment to patients as well as information on how to apply SDF, an effective tool to stop the progression of untreated tooth decay in patients.
In addition, a new online module on SDF has been released by Smiles for Life to provide SDF education for health professionals.
The Intersection of Disability and Abuse Lunch & Learn
On January 30th from 12-1 p.m., Kezia Manchester, a victim advocate and the operations coordinator at The Initiative, will conduct a training for a deeper understanding of the intersection of disabilities and domestic violence and abuse. The training will elucidate the prevalence of abuse that occurs against those in the disability community, review services offered by The Initiative, and unpack the stigma against people with disabilities and the historic marginalization that has occurred, including a contextualized history of ableism and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This training seeks to be educational and encouraging as we advocate for change, equality, and safety for all. Please register in advance for this webinar. To request accommodation, please contact Sarah Rothberg at sarah.rothberg@state.co.us.

Prenatal, Infant, and Toddler
Recent Publications
A Time Study Analysis of Fluoride Varnish Application in Pediatric Well Visits to Address Health Disparities Among Children. Keyser RS, Rodriguez-Jacobo E, Scherrer C. 2024. Journal of Applied Research on Industrial Engineering. DOI: 10.22105/jarie.2024.436316.1595. View full text
- Researchers conducted time studies in clinics located in Georgia to analyze videos of fluoride varnish applications during well-child checks. The median standard time for the entire fluoride varnish process ranged from 67.7 to 166.9 seconds based on the research conducted. Labor costs were also examined. The study determined that per application it costs $2.39 for pediatricians, $1.16 for registered nurses, and $0.53 for medical assistants. Read more about this study.
Affordable Care Act’s Preventive Services Coverage Mandate and Receipt of Fluoride Varnish. Kranz AM, Mizushima Y, Dick AW, Geissler KH, Gracner T. 2024. Pediatrics. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-066638. View abstract.
- The authors examined the impact the Affordable Care Act (ACA) had on privately insured children who received fluoride varnish during medical visits. The study determined that the ACA mandate was associated with higher rates of young children receiving fluoride varnish in a medical setting. Read more about this ACA study.
Cavity Free at Three: Highlights from 2024
2024 was another active year for the Cavity Free at Three (CF3) program, with 323 medical and dental professionals trained! Training highlights include:
- Trained 323 medical and dental professionals including:
- 115 Medical professionals.
- 61 Dental professionals.
- 147 Medical and Dental professional students.
- Completed CF3 training with a third pilot site for the new CF3 Dental curriculum in February 2024 at Salud Family Health-Sterling.
- Conducted trainings with students at the following programs: University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado PA Program, CU College of Nursing (PNP students), Trinidad State College (Dental Assisting Students), and Pueblo Community College (Dental Hygiene Students).
- Completed CF3 trainings with staff at Grand Beginnings and Huerfano-Las Animas Counties Early Childhood Center, two Early Childhood Councils in Colorado.

School-Age
Partner Spotlight: Expanding from the Basic Screening Survey to District-wide School Oral Health Screening in Mesa County
The OHU, MarillacHealth (FQHC in Mesa County) and Mesa County Valley School District 51 (D51) partnered together to provide preventative dental screenings to two elementary schools for the Basic Screening Survey as well as one middle school in 2023. These dental screenings included a visual dental exam by a registered dental hygienist, fluoride varnish treatment, oral hygiene instruction, and a dental referral as needed. Following positive feedback and outcomes from the dental screenings, the Smart Smiles Program was founded by MarillacHealth and is headed by Amber Abeyta, RDH, BASDH and Brittany Williams, RDH, BASDH.
The Smart Smiles Program expanded during the 2024–2025 school year to allow more schools to participate and increase access to dental care to the students of D51. This new program has rapidly established partnerships with schools, and now has established screening events with three middle schools and 14 elementary schools.
The Smart Smiles Program is currently halfway through the school year and has already screened a total of 430 students, with 10 additional schools scheduled for the spring semester. They also provide oral health hygiene kits to every student in each classroom. The Smart Smiles Program’s success is supported by collaborations with the school nurses and health assistants to offer this special oral health opportunity, and they are already looking forward to continuing next school year.