The American Dental Association has launched the Oral Health Ambassador Certificate for Community Health Workers, an online certification program designed to train public health workers to educate patients about oral health and connect them with dental services.
The program teaches common dental terminology, patient communication strategies and oral health considerations for underserved populations, with a focus on the relationship between oral health and chronic conditions. It is intended for community health workers and not for dentists or dental team members, according to a Sept. 15 news release.
The certification was developed in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health — the first time the ADA has collaborated with a state health department in this way. The ADA invited other states to join similar collaborations.
