Goals: What we do

Of the 4 million children born each year, one-quarter will have at least one cavity by the time they reach kindergarten and one-half by second grade.

At the Children's Dental Health Project, our goals are:

• To Prevent childhood tooth decay, because cavities are the result of a disease that is overwhelmingly preventable.
• To Promote solutions that are grounded in the best available research and supporting exploration when evidence is lacking
• To Engage policymakers and other decision-makers in addressing ongoing inequities in oral health and to implement cost-effective solutions.

Over the past twelve years, CDHP's actions have resulted in:

• Development of critical legislation to support prevention, improve dental coverage for children and build a stronger dental workforce.
• Congressional investigations of the adequacy of the systems, specifically Medicaid, intended to treat children from low-income families.
• Tools to establish public-private partnerships to meet the dental needs of uninsured or low-income children.
• Recommendations used by advocates and policymakers across the country to advance the oral health of all children and their families.

Other CDHP Accomplishments and Current Initiatives

• CDHP was instrumental in securing dental coverage options for 26 million US uninsured children through CHIP and Health Reform.
• CDHP houses the the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Policy Center with Partners from state health leaders.
• CDHP provides technical assistance to State Oral Health Directors through a CDC cooperative agreement.
• CDHP is the Project Office for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Periantal and Infant Oral Health Project.
• CDHP supports the Multicultural Oral Health Alliance with the National Dental Association, Hispanic Dental Association, and Society of American Indian Dentists.