The Pew Children’s Dental Campaign released the State of Children’s Dental Health Report that grades each state’s policy responses to the crisis in dental health among America’s children.  Arizona raised its grade to a “B” for 2011.  We made improvements in the share of high-risk schools that participate in the school-based sealant program.  This can partly be attributed to our policy changes that expanded eligibility to schools at 50% and greater Free and Reduced School Lunch status.

While we’re moving in the right direction of implementing demonstrated policies to improve oral health, there’s still much more needed to move the oral health status of our population toward the Healthy People 2020 targets.  Our Office of Oral Health addresses the prevention and control of oral disease through the Arizona School-based Sealant Program; the School Fluoride Mouthrinse Program; and developing workforce practice models.