The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) expressed grave concern about the severe workforce reductions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which threaten critical public health infrastructure and oral health prevention programs nationwide.
The recent cuts to the CDC’s Division of Oral Health undermine essential programs that promote preventive care, including oral health literacy initiatives, community water fluoridation monitoring, and school-based dental sealant programs that serve millions of at-risk children.
“Oral health is not separate from overall health—it is an integral part of it,” said Erin Haley-Hitz, ADHA president. “These cuts significantly weaken our ability to prevent and manage conditions that have well-documented links to systemic illnesses. We cannot afford to backslide on the progress we have made. The erosion of these essential programs will lead to worsening health outcomes, higher health-care expenditures, and a decline in quality of life for countless Americans.”
The CDC’s Division of Oral Health has historically provided vital national leadership in surveillance, research, and evidence-based prevention programs. The severe reduction in workforce threatens to reverse decades of progress in preventing dental disease and addressing oral health disparities.
ADHA urges the administration and Congress to recognize the critical role preventive oral health programs play in reducing long-term health-care costs and maintaining public health. Without this infrastructure and support for community-based programs, the burden of oral disease will escalate and disproportionately affect those with the least access to care, including children, older adults, and historically underserved populations.
The association calls for immediate restoration of funding and staffing to protect these vital public health functions, and encourages dental professionals, public health advocates, and concerned citizens to contact their elected representatives to advocate for sustainable support of these programs.
To find your elected representatives, visit usa.gov/elected-officials.
