Our Mission
Our mission is to elevate the well-being of all Coloradans by advancing oral health equity.
Health disparities are exacerbated when people do not have access to oral health care. We work each day to increase everyone’s access by prioritizing and funding initiatives in areas that address root causes of oral health inequities.
We address our mission through our Theory of Change.
The State of Oral Health In Colorado
Source: 2021 Colorado Health Access Survey
Our initiatives:
Grounded in research and driven by community partnerships, and we are prioritizing three focus areas in order to advance oral health equity across Colorado:
Prevention
Goal: Improve oral health outcomes for children (0-10 years old) and older adults (60+ years old) through evidence-based preventive services, community engagement, and medical-dental integration.
Strategies:
- Preventive services like sealants and fluoride treatments
- Promote oral health education
- Connect people to a dental home
Oral Health Care Access
Goal: Ensure oral health is accessible and available to all by engaging providers and stakeholders.
Strategies:
- Oral health career awareness for underrepresented youth and adults
- Establishing Colorado’s first dental therapy training program
Proactivity
Goal: Anticipate and address oral health needs and opportunities.
Strategy: Conduct learning circles with key populations and stakeholders across Colorado to learn about emerging and ongoing issues, especially among priority populations.
