The Idaho Oral Health Program (IOHP) was established in 1951 to address the issue of lack of dental care and poor oral health in children. Thanks to multiple sources of funding, the program has expanded its reach to include underserved adults and continues to work with various oral health champions across the state to achieve equitable and optimal oral health for all Idahoans.
The IOHP serves as the primary source of oral health surveillance and community-based oral disease prevention programs. The IOHP provides the infrastructure essential to create, implement, and evaluate oral health initiatives and specific policies.
The IOHP is responsible for the promotion and support of prevention services, evidence—based best practice strategies, and community disease prevention interventions. The program works to support public and private partnerships, assist in developing an adequate and competent oral health workforce, assess and monitoring dental disease rates, and evaluate the effectiveness, availability, and quality of dental public health programs and services.
Idaho Oral Health Program Services
The IOHP partners with state and community groups to develop and offer the following services:
- School-based/linked oral health programs
- Dental sealants
- Fluoride varnish
- Teledentistry
- Silver diamine fluoride
- Systems for collecting, tracking, and reporting oral disease and program information
- State and regional oral health improvement plans
- Community water fluoridation monitoring and reporting
- Media and education campaigns to educate Idahoans on oral disease and the importance of optimal oral hygiene
- Training and technical assistance from national oral health subject matter experts on evidence-based best practices
Other organizations working to improve oral health in Idaho
Kelli Broyles, RDH-EA
Health Program Manager
Email:kelli.broyles@dhw.idaho.gov
Sowmya Natarajan, BDS, MPH
Health Program Specialist
Email: Sowmya.Natarajan@dhw.idaho.gov