Oral Health
Oral Health is at the Core of Who We Are
Oral health is the foundation of AIDPH’s work and remains central to our mission. For more than a decade, we have advanced community-driven research, workforce development, and policy strategies to improve access, affordability, and responsiveness of the oral healthcare system. Oral diseases are among the most common chronic conditions globally, yet dental care continues to operate separately from broader health systems, resulting in preventable disease progression, avoidable costs, and missed opportunities for early intervention. AIDPH approaches oral health through a public health lens, recognizing its role in chronic disease management, mental health, workforce productivity, and overall quality of life. Our research and advocacy have focused on strengthening dental infrastructure, improving care for underserved populations, and elevating oral health as an essential component of whole-person care. By leveraging evidence, education, and policy engagement, AIDPH works to ensure oral health is fully integrated into public health systems and whole-person healthcare.
Key Focus Areas
Integrating Oral Health into All Health Systems
AIDPH advances research and policy strategies that elevate oral health as a critical component of chronic disease prevention, mental health, and overall health outcomes by reinforcing that oral health does not happen in a silo. By strengthening oral-systemic integration, we promote care models that reflect whole-person health.
Access and Affordability
AIDPH works to expand access to affordable, high-value dental care for communities facing structural barriers. We advocate for policies that reduce out-of-pocket costs, strengthen dental coverage, and build a more responsive safety net, recognizing that oral healthcare is healthcare and that healthcare is a human right.
Workforce Development
AIDPH equips the oral health and public health workforce with the tools, education, and leadership development necessary to meet evolving community needs. We support interprofessional collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and clinical best practice to strengthen the sustainability of the oral health system.
Community-Driven Research
AIDPH prioritizes community-engaged research that informs practical, evidence-based solutions. Through our mixed-methods approach, we elevate community perspectives to ensure that oral health strategies are grounded in lived experience and aligned with real-world challenges in order to drive direction implementation in our communities.
Over a Decade of Oral Health Research, Education, and Advocacy
For more than a decade, AIDPH has built a national portfolio of research, education, and policy initiatives designed to strengthen oral health systems and improve access to care. Our work has elevated oral health as a critical component of public health infrastructure, advancing solutions for affordability, workforce capacity, and integrated care across diverse communities. For example, in our veteran oral health work, AIDPH has conducted multi-state analyses, developed strategic roadmaps, and advanced policy recommendations to address gaps in dental coverage and the integration of chronic disease care for veterans. Our LGBTQIA+ oral health portfolio has examined how state policies, discrimination, and care delivery environments influence oral and overall health outcomes. AIDPH has been a national leader in community-engaged oral health research efforts focused on rural communities and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. AIDPH uses the outcomes of our research to equip professionals with leadership development, workforce training, and national convenings such as the AIDPH Colloquium. By translating evidence into actionable policy tools and implementation strategies, we aim to build a more coordinated, prevention-centered oral health system that serves communities across the lifespan.
Learn About our History in Oral Health
AIDPH began as the American Institute of Dental Public Health, a nonprofit organization intended to support future public health dentists to advance the specialty. As our mission, vision, values, and community engagement evolved, we pivoted toward a broader and more inclusive portfolio that still keeps oral health at the core of our priorities but continues to address structural gaps in affordable, accessible, and valuable healthcare.