Illinois Oral Health Newsletter Highlights

Vol 20 - Summer 2026

1. Four Decades of Fluoride:

Rockford, Evanston and Centralia Set the Standard

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2. Smiles on the Move: Dr. Richardson’s Mission to Bring

Dental Care Where It’s Needed Most

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3. Making a Statement: Illinois Oral Health Coalition

Conference Recap

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4. Highlights and Resources

Illinois Oral Health Surveillance Brief 2018-2024
Congratulations Anushree Tiwari
Meet Oral Health Section Summer Intern: Monika Brinlee

Four Decades of Fluoride:

Rockford, Evanston & Centralia

Set the Standard

Water quietly flows out of our taps every day. For millions of people in Illinois, that water has something extra: a powerful tool that has helped public health for many years. Illinois ranks among the states with the highest rates of community water fluoridation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recognized water fluoridation as one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.

This year, three communities in Illinois have achieved this extraordinary milestone: Rockford, Evanston, and Centralia. These cities have maintained optimal fluoridation rates in their community water systems for 40 years. To celebrate this accomplishment, each of these cities has been recognized through the Illinois Community Water Fluoridation Award program, which has recognized water facilities that have achieved perfect monthly fluoride compliance with their water systems since 1982.

Fluoride's role in oral health is well established. When added to drinking water at the recommended levels, fluoride strengthens enamel and helps protect teeth of all ages from decay. This translates into fewer cavities, less pain, and savings on dental care for individuals and families throughout Illinois. Furthermore, communities with fluoridated water generally exhibit better oral health, leading to a healthier, more productive population.

Such long-term success in fluoridation lies in the hard work of the water operators in these communities, who work behind the scenes to monitor and maintain fluoridation rates, ensuring this highly cost-effective public health intervention reaches every household connected to that community water system, regardless of income, insurance status, or access to dental care. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Oral Health Section is proud to recognize Rockford, Evanston, and Centralia for this immense achievement. Their long histories of fluoridation demonstrate the expertise of their water operators and their dedication to public health.

Thank you to the water departments of Rockford, Evanston, and Centralia for their contributions to public health throughout the state of Illinois. And thank you to all of Illinois' water operators who provide these essential public health interventions for their communities. Here's to 40 years of success and many more to come!

Smiles on the Move:

Dr. Richardson's Mission to Bring

Dental Care Where It's Needed Most

After returning to her hometown following dental school, Dr. Richardson was invited to join a small group of local dentists working on the Give Kids a Smile initiative. What began as a one-day annual event to provide preventive dental care quickly revealed a deeper need in the community, one day simply wasn't enough. Recognizing this, the group partnered with Bethany, a local nonprofit, and through grants and generous donations, they transformed an RV into a fully functional three-chair mobile dental clinic. Dr. Jackie initially served on the advisory board and provided follow-up care while still in private practice. But in 2023, she made a life-changing decision: she sold her practice and committed herself to working in the mobile clinic. It was a move that allowed her to stay connected to dentistry in a way that felt more meaningful and aligned with her values.

The mobile clinic is sustained through a combination of grants, community donations, and Medicaid reimbursements for services such as exams, cleanings, sealants, and the application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF). While the team is grateful for the support they receive, maintaining consistent funding remains a challenge. With so many programs in need, relying on community donations can be unpredictable, and the time required to research and apply for grants is often hard to come by.

Despite these hurdles, the impact of the mobile clinic is undeniable. During the 2024–2025 school year, the team provided around 2,000 exams and preventive services. With expanded clinic days in the 2025–2026 school year, they surpassed 1,000 exams within the first two and a half months alone. The clinic primarily serves schools in Rock Island County but has expanded to include Head Start programs, daycares, and even events at Bethany's physical location for private and homeschooled students. One particularly moving story involved two sisters who had just arrived in the U.S. from a refugee camp. The older sister was able to receive a cleaning and sealants during her first visit, while the younger, overwhelmed by the experience, could only manage an exam. When the clinic returned months later, the younger sister was able to complete her treatment with ease, a testament to the team's compassionate and trauma-informed care.

The mobile clinic's success is driven by a dedicated team. Kristy, the Mobile Clinic Manager, does far more than drive the bus, she coordinates with school nurses, manages the flow of children, and creates a calm, welcoming environment. The dental team is composed mostly of hygienists and Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs), many of whom also work in private practices. Some are regulars, while others contribute a few days each month, offering flexibility and fresh energy. What unites them is a shared commitment to the mission and a strong sense of camaraderie. They support each other emotionally and professionally, often stepping in to assist with procedures or simply to hold a child's hand. Their bond is strengthened by open communication, mutual respect, and a healthy dose of humor.

For communities struggling with access to dental care, Dr. Richardson's advice is simple: start where you can. Even if comprehensive restorative care isn't possible, preventive measures like Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) can make a significant difference. She encourages others to focus on what they can do and to share their stories, because real-life experiences have the power to shift perceptions and inspire action. Dr. Jackie often draws on her own experiences to challenge misconceptions about treating underserved populations and to advocate for more inclusive care.

What Dr. Jackie loves most about her work is the opportunity to connect with children who see the mobile clinic not as a safety net, but as something fun and exciting. She cherishes the chance to make them feel seen, cared for, and valued—not as a Medicaid number, but as individuals. The gratitude she feels for being able to serve them is matched only by the joy they bring her in return.

On tough days, it's the team that keeps her going. Their shared mission, constant collaboration, and the laughter they share help them push through long hours and challenging situations. The biggest challenge, she admits, is the feeling of not being able to do enough. But she overcomes it by focusing on the impact she is making—one child at a time. Her hope is that the children she treats today will grow up with the knowledge and confidence to care for their own teeth, and maybe even pass that wisdom on to the next generation.

For more information about the program, visit the Bethany for Children & Families Website, or reach out to Dr. Richardson at JRichardson@bethany-qc.org.

Making a Statement: Illinois Oral Health Coalition Conference Recap

After years of operating through partnerships and working largely behind the scenes, the Illinois Oral Health Coalition stepped fully into the spotlight this year by hosting its first independent statewide oral health conference since 2019. "We really wanted to make a statement," says Megan Reutter, Executive Director of the Illinois Oral Health Coalition. "The board has been working really hard to rebuild and to be self-sustainable and being able to lead an initiative like this is a big step in the right direction."

Looking around, Megan recognized so many of the same faces who had been showing up for years. "It's great that we've seen the people that have been our supporters, they are loyal supporters," she says.

She emphasized the importance of a strong foundation, while noting the coalition’s potential to strengthen its numbers and diversify its membership base.

Megan points to two moments from the conference in particular. The first was the keynote delivered by Anushree Tiwari, Illinois’ new Oral Health Section Chief. She gave a sweeping overview of the state’s Oral Health Plan and, in Megan’s words, a "really strong direction and tone" for what she plans to do in her new role. The other happened on day two, during a session with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). Providers, school-based program staff, and HFS representatives sat together and discussed Medicaid reimbursement rates, access to care, and what they were hearing from parents and schools on the ground. “You don’t get those kinds of conversations a lot,” Megan says.

The conference program itself came together organically. Rather than build the conference around a single theme, the coalition issued an open call for abstracts and let the topics emerge. What came back was a diverse lineup that touched on nearly every pressing conversation in dentistry right now.

Megan hopes attendees left feeling recharged. “Right now, public health is not easy to navigate,” she says. "It can kind of feel heavy. It can feel a little cumbersome with everything going on politically and all the changes in funding.” "When you’re surrounded by like-minded people who are working day in and day out to make a difference, it makes you have a renewed sense of purpose," she says. "That is one of the greatest ways to keep moving forward.”

Following the conference, the coalition is turning its energy outward. A program around minimally invasive dentistry is in development, and virtual stakeholder meetings are being planned to keep partners connected across a state as geographically and demographically varied as Illinois. The goal is to create a statewide hub where organizations that have long operated in their own corners can share resources, exchange updates, and strengthen one another.

“Even when it’s around a conference or an event,” Megan says, "it’s always about building and fostering those relationships to make sure that helping others is at the core of everything we do."

For more information, visit the Illinois Oral Health Coalition Website .

Highlights & Resources

Illinois Oral Health Surveillance Brief 2018-2024

The Illinois Department of Public Health Oral Health Section is pleased to announce the release of the Illinois Oral Health Surveillance Brief, covering data from 2018 through 2024. Published annually, this update tracks key oral health indicators, highlighting both progress and continuing challenges in improving oral health across Illinois. Sustained surveillance, cross-sector collaboration, and targeted strategies remain essential for closing gaps and ensuring every Illinois resident has access to timely, affordable, and high-quality oral health care.

The findings will help guide future public health initiatives across Illinois. We encourage all health care providers, health care systems, and stakeholders to explore the brief and consider how its findings can inform your work.

The brief is now available on the IDPH website. Download the brief .

Congratulations Anushree!

Honorable Mention —

AIDPH Visionary Leadership Award

The Illinois Department of Public Health Oral Health Section congratulates Anushree Tiwari, Chief of the Oral Health Section, on receiving an Honorable Mention for the Visionary Leadership Award from the American Institute on Disparities in Public Health (AIDPH).

The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, as well as a long-term commitment to health equity and justice in oral health and public health. She was recognized for her leadership as Chief of the IDPH Oral Health Section, where she has focused on strengthening the state's oral health surveillance and enhancing prevention programs that reach communities facing the greatest disparities. Her vision and collaborative approach continue to shape the direction of oral public health in our state.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. We're proud to have her at the helm of the Oral Health Section!

Meet Oral Health Section Summer Intern: Monika Brinlee

The Illinois Department of Public Health Oral Health Section is thrilled to welcome Monika Brinlee as our Summer 2026 intern!

Monika is an incoming third-year student at the University of Chicago, where she is majoring in Neuroscience on a pre-dental track. Advocating for public health is a passion of hers, and when it comes to teeth, she sees firsthand how access to dental care, or the lack thereof, shapes so much more than a smile.

"Everyone deserves to smile unabashedly and with untampered joy," Monika says. "My drive will forever be eliminating insecurity surrounding teeth."

During her time with the Oral Health Section, Monika has been contributing to writing and communications, including articles in this very newsletter!