title: California's state oral health infrastructure: opportunities for improvement and funding.
abstract: California has virtually no statewide dental public health infrastructure leaving the state without leadership, a surveillance program, an oral health plan, oral health promotion and disease prevention programs, and federal funding. Based on a literature review and interviews with 15 oral health officials nationally, the paper recommends hiring a state dental director with public health experience, developing a state oral health plan, and seeking federal and private funding to support an office of oral health.
authors.affiliation: Diringer and Associates, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diringer
authors.forename: Kathy R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Phipps
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D005378:Financial Support; D005381:Financing, Organized; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006285:Health Planning; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007857:Leadership; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009909:Oral Health; D011050:Policy Making; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011636:Public Health Dentistry / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships