Oral health is tricky business because when compared to physical health the evidence base for our work is far more limited. We know fluoride and sealants improve oral health of individuals. Borrowing from our friends in other sectors, we know that reducing barriers to accessing care through creative and innovative models works. However, there are not vast amounts of scientific evidence to guide our work and inform our grant-making.
As such, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation partnered with the Colorado Health Institute to create and guide an evaluation framework for our work. As a non-partisan research and evaluation institute, they are a perfect partner in helping answer our long-term question, “does our work really improve population health?”
We know that the mouth is the gateway to the body. Since dental disease is almost 100 percent preventable, we believe understanding the specific needs of each community will create a healthier Colorado. We trust our partners will draw our attention to unique approaches to move towards oral health equity. Review our Theory of Change and our evaluation objectives to better understand how we are working to improve oral health for all Coloradans.
Through listening and partnering, we foster an ongoing dialogue to identify and test oral health solutions. Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation’s 2019 oral health open funding opportunity runs June 1 to July 15, 2019. Click here to learn more and apply!