Publications

Investing in Our Youth The Early Smiles Initiative for Low-Cost Dental Services

Date Published: July 2024

The Center for Oral Health (Center) is advocating for comprehensive reforms to enhance oral health care across California. This includes urging state legislators to allocate $10 million in the upcoming budget to expand school-based dental care programs to all public schools statewide within the next three years. Additionally, the Center emphasizes the necessity of Medi-Cal Dental reimbursements for dental screenings and oral health education, as well as mandating annual oral health assessments from pre-K through 12th grade in public schools.

Six Years of Sacramento Smiles

Six-Year Evaluation of the Early Smiles Sacramento Program

Early Smiles Sacramento is a school-based oral health program founded by the Center for Oral Health. This report is an update from the 2017, one-year evaluation of Early Smiles Sacramento. All data presented in this report spans 6 program years, from the program’s inception in September 2016 to June 2022.

Early Smiles Sacramento Impact - 2022

Six Years of Sacramento Smiles

Early Smiles Sacramento Fact Sheet - 2022

Date Published: July 2020

Early Smiles Sacramento is an innovative public-private partnership dedicated to minimizing the dental disease burden among children in Sacramento County.

5 Things You Should Know About Keeping Your Childs Teeth Healthy

Date Published: April 2020

Oral Health of Older Adults

Date Published: March 2018

Despite their unique challenges with access to care, mobility, aging, and health complexities, there has been little attention paid to the status of oral health in older adults. “A Healthy Smile Never Gets Old” examines the unique oral health needs of older adults. It also offers a series of recommendations for improving access to care and strengthening oral and overall health and well-being amongst older Californians.

A Healthy Smile Never Gets Old

A California Report on the Oral Health of Older Adults

This report highlights the oral health status and key issues amongst older adults in California. This is the first report to document oral health needs of this population in the state. We hope this report is used to influence and shape policies to improve the oral health of older adults.

Sacramento Smiles

Evaluation of the Early Smiles Sacramento Program

Early Smiles Sacramento is a school-based oral health program funded by the Center for Oral Health. This report explains what the program is about and the issues it seeks to address. Beyond that, this report also presents findings of a one-year evaluation of the program.

What is Early Smiles Sacramento?

Date Published: October 2017

Early Smiles Sacramento is an innovative public-private partnership dedicated to minimizing the dental disease burden among children in Sacramento. But what are the oral health needs among such children exactly? What does Early Smiles specifically do to help, and how is it unique among similar programs? Read “What is Early Smiles Sacramento?” for answers to these and other questions.

Women, Infants & Children: Early Entry into Dental Care Guidebook

Date Published: December 2011

We created this guidebook to assist dental providers and public health advocates in developing Early Entry into Dental Care programs within their own communities. The guidebook provides background information on WIC (women, infants, and children) and the benefits of early preventive oral health care, guidance for planning dental care and education services, and more.

“Mommy, It Hurts to Chew”

An Oral Health Assessment of California’s Kindergarten and 3rd Grade Children

Children are victims of the single most widespread disease among children in California: tooth decay. This report sheds light on this epidemic through careful research and also offers simple recommendations on what can be done to prevent this issue from spreading further.

Healthy Teeth Begin at Birth

Date Published: May 2005

Your child's baby teeth will fall out, but that doesn't mean they're less important. Read helpful tips on how to jumpstart the oral health of children with this First 5 fact sheet. Topics covered include diet, home tips on preserving oral health, the role of dental and medical providers in helping children, and more. This fact sheet offers helpful tips and reminders for parents and others who work with children.