Dental coalition sends funding request to Congress: 5 things to know

A coalition of dental organizations sent a letter to Congress requesting funding for dental and oral health programs in fiscal year 2026, according to a March 27 news release from the American Dental Association. 

Here are five things to know:

1. The letter calls for the support and funding of oral health programs and training within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Oral Health, Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. 
2. According to the letter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Oral Health supports state and territorial health programs, oral disease surveillance, school-based preventive care, medical-dental integration and infection prevention and control guidelines for dental practices.
3. Title VII programs through the HRSA help prepare dental professionals for evolving healthcare needs and expand access to dental care in remote and underserved areas.
4. The organizations also support the current structure of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research’s National Institutes of Health, which has 27 institutes and centers. 
5. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Education Association and the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research are also part of the coalition.