MDAC - Maryland Dental Action Coalition

10/07/2026

Missed our webinar on the Maryland Oral Health Plan last week? The recording is now available!

The highlight of the webinar, Maryland Oral Health Plan 2026–2030: A Roadmap for Continued Progress, was the facilitated discussion with our speakers including MDAC staff, Dr. Debony Hughes, Director of the Office of Oral Health at the Maryland Department of Health, and chairs of the committees that helped develop the Plan, including Robyn Elliott, Dr. Toyin Fatogun, and Dr. Dushanka Kleinman and Alice Horowitz.

Access the recording: https://www.mdac.us/initiatives/mdac-programming.html

Advancing oral health for all Marylanders takes all of us. Join us in turning the Plan into action.

Maryland Oral Health Plan 2026–2030: A Roadmap for Continued Progress This webinar, Maryland Oral Health Plan 2026–2030: A Roadmap for Continued Progress, held…

09/17/2026

📣 **Join us for the launch of the Maryland Oral Health Plan 2026–2030!**

On Tuesday, September 29, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m., MDAC will officially launch the new Maryland Oral Health Plan—a five-year roadmap for improving oral health and advancing oral health equity across Maryland.

During the webinar, we’ll share key findings, highlight the Plan’s goals and strategies, and discuss how you and your organization can help put the Plan into action.

👉 Register today and be part of the next five years of oral health action in Maryland! https://bit.ly/473xnK6

08/05/2026

How has accessing dental care impacted you?

We want to hear from you! The Maryland Dental Action Coalition is gathering stories to better understand how people access dental services and where improvements are needed. Your voice can help shape policies, improve programs, and connect more people to the care they need.

🗣️ Share your story today: https://www.mdac.us/initiatives/share-your-dental-story.html

07/30/2026

MDAC is proud to recognize Senator Angela Alsobrooks for her leadership in advancing oral health policy at the federal level.

The introduction of three bills to strengthen dental coverage through Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP continues Maryland's longstanding tradition of leadership in advancing oral health. Senator Alsobrooks is helping ensure that oral health remains a national priority by championing legislation that would expand access to dental care for children, adults, and older adults nationwide.

These proposals would:
• Make adult dental coverage a mandatory Medicaid benefit nationwide.
• Establish comprehensive dental benefits under Medicare.
• Strengthen dental coverage protections for children enrolled in CHIP.

Here in Maryland, we've seen the impact of investing in oral health. Expanded adult Medicaid dental coverage has helped over 400,000 of Marylanders access essential dental care, demonstrating that these investments improve health outcomes, advance equity, and strengthen communities. Every state should include adult dental coverage in their Medicaid program.

We are grateful to Senator Alsobrooks for continuing Maryland's tradition of leadership on oral health and helping build a healthier future for our state and the nation.

https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-barragan-introduce-three-bills-to-close-gaps-in-dental-coverage/

July 22, 2026    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced three bills that will close historical gaps in dental coverage across the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, and Medicare. These ...

07/06/2026

Maryland Dentists & Dental Hygienists: Student loan repayment funding is available!

The Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) is now accepting applications from both full-time and part-time dental providers.

📅 Application deadline: July 31, 2026

Eligible providers may receive:
🦷 Dentists
• Up to $50,000/year (full-time)
• Up to $25,000/year (part-time)
• Awards available for up to 3 years

✨ Dental Hygienists
• Up to $10,000/year (full-time)
• Up to $5,000/year (part-time)
• Awards available for up to 2 years

To qualify, applicants must:
✔️ Be licensed in Maryland
✔️ Have qualifying higher education loan debt
✔️ Be enrolled in Maryland Healthy Smiles
✔️ Serve a patient population that is at least 30% Maryland Medicaid participants
✔️ Commit to providing care to Maryland Medicaid participants

This program helps dental professionals reduce student loan debt while increasing access to oral health care for Maryland communities.

🔗 Learn more and apply: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/oralhealth/Pages/mdc-larp.aspx
📧 Questions? Contact Stacy Costello at [email protected].

Please help spread the word by sharing with eligible colleagues!

An official website of the State of Maryland.

07/01/2026

Did you read MDAC's e-newsletter yesterday?

Our June MDAC newsletter features:
🦷 How Maryland's new Collaborative to Improve Children's Oral Health Through School-Based Programs is working to reverse troubling trends in children's oral health.
📣 Highlights from OPEN Hill Day 2026, where Maryland advocates met with members of Congress to promote policies that protect Medicaid, improve access to dental care for veterans, and strengthen federal oral health programs.
🌾 New opportunities to improve oral health access in Maryland's rural communities through innovative care models and the Rural Health Transformation Program.
💙 Resources to help Maryland families prepare for upcoming Medicaid changes, plus workforce opportunities, oral health resources, and upcoming events.

Read the full newsletter to learn how partners across Maryland are working together to improve oral health for all.

📖 https://www.mdac.us/file_download/inline/f9302b3e-e904-4def-9aa4-beefaebac117

Please share with your colleagues and help spread the word!

06/01/2026

Dive deep into the state of veteran oral health in Maryland with us tomorrow at 11am. Join MDAC for a data-driven virtual session with the American Institute on Disparities in Public Health on June 2nd. Explore, discuss, and shape the future of dental care for our heroes.

Register here:

Join the Maryland Dental Action Coalition and the American Institute on Disparities in Public Health (AIDPH) in advancing veteran oral health in the state of Maryland; during our virtual road tour, a state-based series featuring tools, resources, data, and advocacy frameworks for improving access an...

05/12/2026

Maryland Dental Action Coalition is excited to partner with the American Institute on Disparities in Public Health on the Maryland “stop” of the Veteran Oral Health Virtual Road Tour! Join us on Tuesday, June 2 from 11am-12pm for a dynamic one-hour session designed to empower state-based stakeholders to illuminate gaps and identify solutions for Maryland veterans and their oral health.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/iXc9W8d3RDecw0e_IxoviA

04/27/2026

Want to get the latest oral health news right to your inbox?

Subscribe to MDAC’s bimonthly newsletter today for insights and updates: https://www.mdac.us/connect/subscribe.html

04/21/2026

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Pay close attention to what’s going on in your mouth. Look and feel your lips, look at your tongue, and check the roof of your mouth and tonsils.

Visit the Oral Health Foundation website linked below for more detailed information on how to spot mouth cancer.

How much do you know about the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer? By being Mouthaware you can make a difference in the fight against mouth cancer.