Health centers increase access to oral health care, which is essential to overall health and well-being. This includes basic dental screenings, oral health hygiene instruction and education, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and may include dental sealants and X-rays.
Technical assistance resources
HRSA-supported resources
- “Infection Prevention and Safety in FQHC Dental Programs” – webinar recording, PowerPoint slides (PDF - 2 MB)
- Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care Technical Assistance Toolkit – addresses oral health in people with HIV and highlights best practices and strategies that Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program recipients use
- How To Take Care of Your Oral Health website – mainly for patients, but includes “Educational Materials” and “Campaign Toolkit” to support your work
- A Healthy Mouth for Every Body Campaign Toolkit
- Considerations for Oral Health Integration in Primary Care Practice for Children (PDF - 1 MB) – this 2012 report teaches providers how to integrate preventive measures into systems of care
- National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) – this HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner addresses the unique challenges faced by safety-net oral health programs
Resources from other partners
- Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges – this 2021 NIH report builds on the landmark Surgeon General report from 2000
- CDC Oral Health Page
- CareQuest Institute Resource Library – offers best practices, tools, and strategies, including sample policies and guidelines for safety-net health programs
Review recent health center data
Program awardees and look-alikes report on a core set of measures each year. Get the latest Health Center Program Uniform Data System data.
In 2022, health centers:
- Served more than 6 million dental patients
- Provided more than 14.3 million dental visits
- Provided dental sealants to 58% of children ages 6-9 at elevated risk of tooth decay
- Employed 19,302 oral health full-time equivalents, including:
- Dentists: 5,168
- Dental hygienists: 2,711
- Dental therapists: 41
- Other dental personnel: 11,383
Date Last Reviewed: