• Dental Hygiene Branch
• Hospital and Community Dental Services Branch
• Hawaiian Islands Oral Health Task Force Action Plan

Mission:

To promote optimal oral health for the residents of the State of Hawai`i through the development of public policy which helps assure adequate access to basic dental care and through the development and implementation of early detection, disease prevention and treatment programs targeting high risk populations.

Who we serve and how the objectives are met:

As the only Dental Public Health program in the State, the Dental Health Division:

• Provides leadership and a focal point for the community in matters associated with oral disease and oro-facial developmental disorders.
  
  
• Conducts research and investigations relating to the incidence, prevalence, cause, diagnosis, management/treatment and prevention of oral diseases.
  
  
• Provides technical and consultative services associated with community-based efforts to address oral health needs. Facility and program design technical assistance and consultation are provided on an on-going basis to organizations addressing community health, services for persons with disabilities, rural health and Native Hawaiian health.
  
  
• Facilitates and provides professional education relating to dental health issues and public policy (including issues and policy associated with managed care, public assistance, services for persons with disabilities, communicable disease and staff and patient safety).
  
  
• Provides an informational and educational resource for lay and professional individuals and groups on matters associated with oral medicine and dental health.
  
  
• Represents the Department and State at federal, national and international primary care and dental public health forums.
  
  
• Coordinates with and responds to federal agency inquiries associated with oral medicine and dental health.
  
  
• Maintains contracts and provides quality assurance oversight for dental service activities taking place on State property.
  
  
• Oversees the provision of direct dental treatment services for patients residing at State operated hospitals and long-term care facilities and persons served at community-based dental clinics.
  
  
• Defines and monitors the `Standards of Dental Care' in Hawai`i and maintains a program of Quality Assurance in association with the State Board of Dental Examiners, other components of the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Safety.
  
  
• Serves actively and directly as the Dental Consultant to the State's Medicaid Program (DHS Med-QUEST Division), overseeing dental care quality assurance, monitoring and evaluating plan and program performance, negotiating contracts and adjusting claims.