MDAC - Maryland Dental Action Coalition

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.

04/13/2026

MDAC is currently monitoring a reduction in fluoride in community water for some Maryland residents. Some water filtration plants are temporarily reducing fluoride in drinking water because significant market disruptions have made it difficult for Maryland water systems to obtain the compound used in community water fluoridation. Adding fluoride to community water sources is a proven public health strategy to reduce tooth decay, especially for young children. MDAC is looking forward to the issue resolving quickly so that residents can return to having access to fluoride through their community water systems at optimal levels.

For more information, read WSSC’s press release:

WSSC Water offers five ways to pay your bill: Online, by Phone, by Mobile App, by Drive-Thru, by Mail and in Person. Go to Pay My Bill for more information.

03/24/2026

Maryland Dentists and Dental Hygienists—Don’t Miss This!

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

📅 Apply by July 31, 2026
💰 Loan Repayment Awards:
• Dentists: Up to $50,000/year for full time and $25,000/year for part-time for 3 years
• Dental Hygienists: Up to $10,000/year for full time and $5,000/year for part-time for 2 years

To qualify, providers must be:
✅ Licensed in Maryland
✅ Carrying higher education loan debt
✅ Committed to serving Medicaid participants
✅ Enrolled in Maryland Healthy Smiles
✅ Providing care to at least 30% Maryland Medicaid participants

This is a great opportunity to reduce your student loan burden and expand access to care across Maryland.

🔗 Learn more & apply: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/oralhealth/Pages/mdc-larp.aspx

📧 Questions? Contact Stacy Costello: [email protected]

An official website of the State of Maryland.

03/18/2026

Maryland Dental Action Coalition is pleased to be participating in the Improving Children’s Oral Health Through School Based Programs: Future Opportunities and Lessons Learned webinar on March 23. The webinar is part of a webinar series sponsored by the Maryland Department of Health, School-Based Health Care Program and presented by the Maryland Assembly on School-Based Health Care.

MDAC staff will discuss how schools can address help improve the oral health of children. We are excited to be co-presenting with Ambyr Klink from the Howard County Health Department and Christina Bartz from Choptank Community Health Systems, Inc.

Register here:

Recent data from the 2022/2023 Oral Health Survey of Maryland School Children reveals a troubling rise in untreated dental decay, with 21% of students affected, up from 14% in the previous survey in 2015/2016. Alarmingly, 30% of students in the recent survey required early follow-up or urgent care d...

03/17/2026

What happens when Medicaid funding is cut? Insurance premiums go up for everyone.

That’s the hidden healthcare tax Maryland could face.

When people lose coverage, they often turn to hospitals for care, which are the most expensive places to receive treatment. When patients cannot pay, those costs are absorbed by the healthcare system and ultimately drive up insurance premiums for everyone.

During this legislative session, policymakers have the opportunity to protect affordable healthcare by fully funding Medicaid. Watch and share this video to help raise awareness and call on policymakers to protect Medicaid. Learn more at www.HiddenTaxMD.org.

03/16/2026

Access to dental care remains a challenge for many families across the country. This recent article from KFF Health News highlights how shortages of dentists and limited access for people with special health care needs can lead families to seek dental care in hospital emergency rooms.

MDAC has also been tracking concerning trends in children’s oral health here in Maryland. After years of progress, recent data show that access to care is slipping. In the 2022–2023 school oral health survey, 21% of Maryland students had untreated tooth decay — up from 14% in 2015–2016. Even more concerning, 30% of students required early follow-up or urgent care due to pain or infection.

Stories like this help elevate the urgent need to strengthen access to oral health care for children and families.
Read the article: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/dental-care-emergency-rooms-special-needs-medicaid-shortage-areas/

Dentists, hygienists, and researchers say a shortage of rural dental care professionals and worsening oral hygiene since the covid-19 pandemic mean more kids are ending up in the emergency room for tooth decay.

03/12/2026

Check out this upcoming program at Howard University on oral health literacy!