Advancing Oral Health Equity Across Colorado
The Colorado Oral Health Coalition brings together communities, providers, advocates, and organizations to build a future where everyone has access to optimal oral health.
Who We Are
The Colorado Oral Health Coalition is a diverse group of stakeholders, organizational representatives, and community leaders working together to address oral health inequities across the state. Our members bring expertise and lived experience in oral health, health equity, community engagement, health care, advocacy, and related fields. By fostering collaboration and elevating community voices, we aim to create sustainable solutions that ensure equitable access to oral health care for all Coloradans.
Why a Colorado Oral Health Coalition
Oral health is an essential part of overall health, yet too many Coloradans still face barriers to accessing the care they need to achieve it. Where someone lives, their income, race or ethnicity, insurance status, or ability to find a dentist who understands their culture or language can all shape their oral health outcomes. These inequities don’t happen by chance, they are the result of systemic gaps in access, policy, and representation.
The Colorado Oral Health Coalition exists to change that. The Coalition brings together community voices, health care providers, advocates, policymakers, and organizations from across Colorado to work collectively toward a shared vision: equitable oral health for all.
By coordinating strategies, sharing resources, and amplifying community leadership, we can create lasting, systems-level change that ensures every Coloradan, regardless of background or zip code, has access to preventive care, treatment, and the opportunity for lifelong oral health.
Why Oral Health Equity Matters
Oral health affects more than smiles. It impacts overall health, confidence, employability, learning, and quality of life. Poor oral health can lead to pain, infection, and chronic conditions, and it disproportionately affects communities already facing social and economic barriers.
Achieving oral health equity means addressing the root causes of these disparities and ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their full health potential.
The Colorado Oral Health Coalition works to:
- Eliminate barriers that prevent access to quality oral health care.
- Elevate community voices to inform policy and practice.
- Strengthen partnerships across public, private, and community sectors.
- Promote education and prevention strategies, like Community Water Fluoridation, that benefit everyone.
Together, we’re building a healthier Colorado, one where oral health is recognized, prioritized, and accessible for all.
Mission: Advance equitable oral health outcomes for all Coloradans by utilizing a collective impact approach.
Vision: All Coloradans have equitable access to opportunities for achieving optimal oral health.
Values:
- Accountability
- Community Voice
- Culturally Appropriate Care
- Data
- Lived Experience
- Partnerships
- Transparency
A Colorado oral health coalition, known as the Oral Health Colorado, previously existed from 2003 to 2019 and was responsible for many oral health equity achievements including Cavity Free at Three but ultimately dissolved due to a lack of sustainable funding and reduced participation. In 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environments (CDPHE) Oral Health Unit (OHU) began convening partners and stakeholders to develop a state oral health plan. Through many engagement opportunities and planning sessions, the oral health network partners identified several goals and strategies. The resulting Framework to Advance Oral Health Equity in Colorado (Framework), co-developed with communities and stakeholders, identified the need for a coalition. The Framework includes Goal 4: Collective Impact: Coordinate oral health efforts across the state to align strategies, leverage shared resources, and integrate actions of community and private and public sectors in order to improve oral health and address oral health inequities. In July 2022 a Coalition Backbone Transition Workgroup was formed to identify a Colorado Oral Health Coalition Backbone Agency through a competitive application process. Funding was provided through CDPHE and Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF). In February 2024, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health (PHIDH) was selected to be the neutral backbone entity. Between July 2024 and June 2025, PHIDH convened a cross-sector network of stakeholders to develop an Action Plan, Business Plan, and Quality Assurance Plan to launch the Colorado Oral Health Coalition.
We work collaboratively to implement statewide strategies that improve oral health systems, educate communities, and influence policy change.
Our Goals:
- Coalition Building: Rebuild and sustain a statewide oral health coalition that is inclusive and responsive to community priorities
- Policy & Advocacy: Monitor and respond to timely or emerging oral health issues at the state and local level
- Education & Awareness: Promote oral health education in high-risk communities, starting with a focus on community water fluoridation
How We Work:
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Equity-centered governance
- Community engagement strategies
- Strategic communication and outreach
- Public policy monitoring and advocacy
Equity is at the core of everything we do. From decision-making to outreach, we ensure community voices guide our priorities and actions.
What This Looks Like:
- Inclusive coalition governance
- Equity-centered decision-making tool
- Community partnership strategy
- Transparent communication and accountability
- Elevating voices with lived experience, especially those most impacted by oral health inequities
Current Priority Campaign: We are currently focused on increasing public understanding and support for Community Water Fluoridation (CWF), a proven strategy to prevent dental decay and improve population-level oral health.
Get Involved:
Ways to Engage:
- Join the Coalition
- Donate or Provide In-Kind Support
Questions? Contact Us:
Andrea Pascual
Andrea.Pascual@dhha.org
303-602-4482
