The Center for Oral Health (COH), founded in 1985, is a California-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting public oral health, with a focus on children and vulnerable populations. COH collaborates with national, state, and local partners to develop innovative community-based strategies for improving the oral health. COH has offices in Northern and Southern California.

Vision and Mission

For over twenty-five years, the Center for Oral Health has been dedicated to its vision of Oral Health for All.

Its mission is to build and work through community partnerships to promote its vision by:

• Providing leadership in advocacy, education, and public policy development;
• Promoting community-based prevention strategies;
• Improving access to and the quality of oral health services; and
• Encouraging the integration of oral health and total health.

Strategic Objectives

• Elevate the importance of oral health among all populations;
• Establish a comprehensive dental public health infrastructure in California;
• Advocate for policies and practices that improve oral health;
• Eliminate barriers to care; and
• Prevent disease.

Areas of Activity

To achieve its objectives, the Center for Oral Health engages in activities that fall into three broad, overlapping categories:

• Oral Health Policy Development and Advocacy
• Oral Health Education
• Oral Health Services