CDC makes award to association of state and territorial dental directors

Oct. 1, 2013

Posted by Lerin Madole

The CDC, under its National Organizations’ Support for State Oral Health Programs, has awarded a five-year grant to The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) for a project started in September 2013.

The project focuses on the 10Essential Services to Promote Oral Health (http://www.astdd.org/state-guidelines/) and other core public health functions that are provided for in state oral health programs. The ASTDD will provide technical support to those state programs to help them maintain effective prevention interventions, and develop better systems for school-based and community programs that focus on improving the oral health of the public.

William Bailey, DDS, MPH, Acting Director, CDC Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, is enthusiastic about the continued relationship of the two organizations. He expects the grant will lead to improvement in promoting oral health.

ASTDD Executive Director Christine Wood, DH, BS, commented on the successes of past state programs based on grants from the CDC. “Through previous CDC grants, ASTDD has played a major role in increasing the use of evidence-based interventions to prevent tooth decay, such as school dental sealant programs, fluoride varnish programs, and community water fluoridation.”

Ms. Wood also commented on the ASTDD’s plan to create online and in-person learning activities with peer coaching. This will go hand-in-hand with other technical assistance and tool development to support state programs.

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