Colorado’s Oral HealthWinnable Battle

Christopher E. Urbina, MD, MPHExecutive Director andChief Medical OfficerColorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Colorado’s Winnable Battles were chosen because:

• They are important – large health impact

• We have an ability to impact these areas

• There is capacity to impact these areas

Colorado’s 10 Winnable BattlesClean AirClean WaterInfectious Disease

PreventionInjury PreventionMental Health &

Substance Abuse

ObesityOral HealthSafe FoodTobaccoUnintended

Pregnancy

Oral Health Winnable Battle CollaborativeTri-agency supportFive dozen partnersMonthly meetingsShared initiativesShared messagingShared resourcesFocused efforts

Why Oral Health Matters

•Preventable diseases•Inequitable burden•Sustainable change

Consequences

Military Readiness1940: 1 out of 10 army recruits

didn't have enough teeth to enlist.(Number of teeth needed to enlist: 6)

2002: 34% of military personnel on active duty require dental care prior to deployment

Measuring our successes:

• Increase age one dental visits.• Increase sealants on permanent teeth.• Improve rates of community water fluoridation.

Rampant Decay

Children’s Oral Disease – a Public Health Crisis• Most common chronic disease of

childhood• US Surgeon General: oral health

is a core component of overall health

• Need to reduce oral health inequities

Metal Mouth

Simply by drinking fluoridated water, everyone in the community benefits.

No change in behavior is required by the individualEveryone – regardless of age, gender, culture, socio-

economic status – can benefit

Fluoridation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named community water fluoridation as one of the 10 great health achievements of the 20th Century.

Colorado’s Future

Thank you!