Policy & Advocacy Curriculum for Pediatric Dental Residency Programs

Course Description
This course covers introductory concepts of policy and advocacy and the dental professional’s
role in advocating for optimal oral health in the pediatric population. The modules include expert faculty lectures, as
well as recommendations for hands-on activities and/or experiential training opportunities involving health policies at
national, state, and local levels, as well as professional and organizational policies and advocacy initiatives.

Course Competencies
  • Demonstrate the ability to describe the US policy and advocacy legislative processes.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to advocate for policies that
    impact oral and general health for individuals and populations.
  • Demonstrate the ability to participate in inter-professional care across the lifespan of people from diverse communities
    and cultures.

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, residents will be able to:
  • Describe the overall federal and state health policy making process, current policies in place, and strategies
    applied in advocacy.
  • Describe how laws and policies are developed and implemented in the US.
  • Identify the role of the dental profession in advocating for optimal health for the US population, including
    underserved and vulnerable populations.
  • Describe the roles of dental public health organizations in oral health advocacy.
  • Educate and promote awareness about the importance of oral health to policy makers and regulatory agencies
    and officials.
  • Discuss the US policies that regulate or affect the provisions of oral healthcare, including coverage of dental care
    and state practice acts.
  • Describe the role of inter-professional collaborations in advocating for policies that prevent and treat dental diseases.

Instructional Methods: Lecture, Literature Review, Applied Learning Experience(s)

CODA Standards addressed by this course: Advocacy, Prevention and health promotion

Course Format: Asynchronous/Self-paced

Recommended Participants: Pediatric Dental residents, AEGD residents, General Practice residents
Module 1: Health Disparities and Inequities
Developed & contributed by:
Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH
Professor – Section of Pediatric Dentistry
University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe social & structural determinants of health
  • Describe health disparities and health equity vs. equality
  • Define access to care & utilization of care
  • Describe aging and the life course considerations
  • Use data and tools to understand patient populations
Recommended Readings
  • Tiwari T. Social Determinants of Health: An Essential Element in Dental Education. J Dent Educ. 2018 Mar;82(3):235-236. doi: 10.21815/JDE.018.021. PMID: 29496800.
  • da Fonseca MA, Avenetti D. Social Determinants of Pediatric Oral Health. Dent Clin North Am. 2017 Jul;61(3):519-532. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2017.02.002. Epub 2017 May 4. PMID: 28577634.
  • Ramos-Gomez, F. Understanding oral health disparities in the context of social justice, health equity, and children’s human right. JADA Commentary. 2019 Nov;150(11):898-900. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2019.09.004
  • Ramos-Gomez F, Tiwari T. Oral Health Literacy Framework: The Pathway to Improved Oral Health. CDA Journal. 2021 Dec:37-47. Accessed here: https://issuu.com/cdapublications/docs/_cda_dec_2021_journal_book2_asposted
Recommended Activities
  • Visit www.playspent.org to access the online poverty simulation and reflect on your experience.
  • Access ADA Health Policy Institute data and fact sheets on coverage, access & outcomes.
  • Take a look at the Neighborhood Atlas for the area around your institution/practice and its Area Deprivation Index (ADI).
  • Review oral health surveillance data from national and state public health organizations to better understand your patient population.
  • Locate or develop a community resource guide to support your patients with connections to organizations that assist with nutrition and transportation access, healthcare navigation, school readiness, etc.
Module 2: Measuring and Assessing Oral Health & Population Health
Developed & contributed by:
David Avenetti, DDS, MSD, MPH
Clinical Associate Professor, Post-Graduate Program Director – Pediatric Dentistry
University of Illinois, Chicago College of Dentistry
Scott Tomar, DMD, DrPH
Associate Dean for Prevention and Public Health Sciences
Professor – Department of Pediatric Dentistry
University of Illinois, Chicago College of Dentistry

Module 3: Organization of Healthcare and Oral Healthcare Delivery

Developed & contributed by:
James Crall, DDS, MS, ScD
Professor and Chair, Division of Public Health and Community Dentistry
University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry

Module 4: Overview of Advocacy, Policy & Legislation
Module 5: Inter-professional Education and the Future Workforce
Module 6: Health Economics, Insurance and the Quadruple Aim for Quality Improvement
Module 7: The Role of Organized Dentistry in State and Federal Advocacy
Module 8: Importance of Advocacy, Outreach & Leadership in the Community