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:

The Hospital and Community Dental Services Branch conducts the following activities:

• Provides dental evaluation and treatment services to clients residing in facilities operated by the Department, including Kalaupapa Settlement, Hawai`i State Hospital and Waimano Training School and Hospital and clients that are community-based from these facilities.
  
  
• Provides dental evaluation, emergency and comprehensive treatment services for eligible persons at community-based, Department dental clinics. Services are primarily targeted to accommodate indigent severe mental health developmentally disabled and medically compromised, frail elderly clients who have restricted access to private sector dental care.
  
  
• Provides technical assistance and consultative services to other State programs, including programs dealing with mental health developmentally disabled clients, the frail elderly, young children and institutionalized persons, including long-term care residents and prison inmates.
  
  
• Oversees and maintains contracts with the long-term care facilities of the Community Hospitals System for the provision of facility-based services.
  
  
• Oversees and maintains a program of Quality Review & Assurance and on-going staff training and evaluation relating to occupational injury, health and safety, clinical care, and patient management.
  
  
• Evaluates and demonstrates new techniques, procedures and methods in treating dental disease and maintaining health by conducting regular in-service training for long-term care givers, both lay and professional staff.
  
  
• Assists communities in the evaluation of service needs, strategic planning and the development of (local and targeted) dental health programs around the State.