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AAP's New Blog: Key Facts on the 2026 Fluoride Shortage
On October 15, 2026, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) posted six Facts regarding the 2026 fluoride shortage. This resource was requested by state advocates to provide decisionmakers, stakeholders, parents, health professionals, and the public with an overview of the current availability and cost of fluoride. It includes reminders on and links to resources on the importance of tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Read more here.
Santa Fe Group Releases Progress Report: Oral Health as a Pathway to Wellness and Longevity
The Santa Fe Group held a national convening earlier this year. They are pleased to share a Progress Report for our collective work on the Oral Health as a Pathway to Wellness and Longevity initiative. This report synthesizes the Santa Fe Group’s national Convening and subsequent interactions into a living framework, helping to develop and guide a network for collective action. We expect the next phase will unfold as a gradual transition from convening to collaboration, and from collaboration to implementation. This report is intended to serve as a shared point of departure in this journey.
Recruiting New Champions for 100 Million Mouths
The Center for Integration of Primary Care and Oral Health (CIPCOH) is looking for individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply to join our national network of oral health education champions. We are looking for applicants from Tennessee, Indiana, Rhode Island, Oregon, North Carolina, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, and New York. We will be recruiting one oral health education champion from each state listed.
Champions will be trained in January and attend regular meetings with other Champions and be assigned a mentor for monthly meetings. Champions work with medical, nursing, physician assistant schools and primary care residencies to improve their oral health curricula. There is a $5000 stipend and $1000 for supplies and incidentals. Deadline for applications is December 1 2026.
Read more here.
To submit your application, please click here:
As part of the application, you will be asked the following questions:
- Why do you want to be your state oral health champion and engage health profession schools/programs to learn more about oral health?
- What experiences do you have engaging/teaching primary care learners and professionals about oral health?
- As a State Oral Health Education champion, how might you contribute to improving health equity in the population(s) you work most closely with?
Smiles for Life — Oral Health Matters — Episode 13: Oral Health Challenges Facing Older Adults
In this episode of Oral Health Matters, host Dr. Karlynn Sievers welcomes Dr. Lisa Thompson and Dr. Beth Price to explore the Oral Health Challenges Facing Older Adults, particularly those living in nursing homes. They discuss why tooth decay and other oral health problems are so prevalent among aging populations, highlighting barriers such as limited dental coverage, high costs, medication-related dry mouth, chronic health conditions, and inadequate access to care. The conversation examines the challenges of maintaining oral hygiene in long-term care settings, including staffing shortages, limited caregiver training, and residents’ physical or cognitive limitations. The guests also explore the connection between oral health and overall well-being, including links to cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, diabetes, and nutrition. They share practical strategies for improving oral care, from routine dental examinations and caregiver education to preventive treatments and daily hygiene practices that can make a meaningful difference in the health and quality of life of older adults. Listen here.
New Poll: 9 in 10 Voters Support Dental Coverage
A new national survey conducted by CareQuest Institute and Marketing for Change shows broad bipartisan support for strengthening dental coverage. Nine in 10 voters support policies that expand Medicare dental benefits for older adults and people with disabilities, extending VA dental coverage to all veterans, and encouraging more dentists to accept Medicaid and Medicare.
Read more here.
Cross-Partisanship in Public Health in the Age of Polarization: Why it is important to Achieve it.
Read the new American Journal of Public Health article here.
ADA's First Living Guidelines — Dental Examinations Crucial in Early Cancer Detection
The American Cancer Society projects 38,720 new oral cancer cases and 8,390 deaths this year in the United States, roughly one life lost every hour. An updated clinical practice guideline from the American Dental Association (ADA) reinforces that dental visits can be the first line of defense against oral cancer. Read more here.
ADA's Health Policy Institute Updates
- Q3 2026 Update: State of the U.S. Dental Economy
HPI's quarterly analysis points to a more sluggish dental economy. Drawing on data from HPI's quarterly dentist panel survey and government economic indicators, the report shows declining dentist confidence amid softer consumer spending, rising practice costs, ongoing staffing challenges, and increasing financial pressure on dental practices.
The report also includes new findings on the dental workforce, including the time it takes practices to fill open dental hygienist and dental assistant positions. Read more here.
- Trends on Utilization, Coverage, and Barriers to Care
HPI's latest analysis of national survey data provides an updated look at dental care utilization, dental insurance coverage, and cost-related barriers to care in the United States. Based on the latest government data available as of October 2026, findings are presented by age, race and ethnicity, income, and insurance status, highlighting persistent disparities in access to dental care. Read more here.
- New Series: HPI Perspectives
In case you missed it, HPI has launched a new series of articles, HPI Perspectives, leveraging the latest data from HPI and other sources to provide concise but in-depth analyses of the most important trends impacting the dental market.
Check out other recent HPI Perspectives pieces:
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