NNOHA - National Network for Oral Health Access

03/06/2026

Happy Dental Assistants Recognition Week! We applaud the work Dental Assistants do every day to improve patient outcomes and promote oral health. Their expertise is essential to health center dental teams, and we’re so grateful for all that they do 🌟

Visit the American Dental Assistants Association for resources and tools to help recognize and support Dental Assistants!

02/26/2026

It’s time to share your expertise! NNOHA is accepting abstracts for our 2026 Annual Conference happening October 25-28 in Seattle, WA 🎤✨

Click here to view a full list of topics and guidelines: https://www.cvent.com/c/abstracts/d620317c-57eb-4388-8026-04be5f732a71

📝 Abstracts are due by April 17

01/16/2026

Join us next week for the 411 on Antibiotic Stewardship for Health Centers!

📆 Wednesday, January 21
⏰ 1pm PT • 2pm MT • 3pm CT • 4pm ET

Start the year with a quick summary of the important new antibiotic guidelines and paradigm changes impacting safety net programs and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). 1.0 CDE is available.

➡️ Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xyl8HEKhTFyoteJi-QwI5g

12/23/2025

The NNOHA office will be closed from December 24 to January 2. During this time, email and phone responses will be delayed.

Wishing you a restful and cozy holiday season. Thank you for being part of our community! ☃️💚💙

12/12/2025

Join us next week for the 2025 Annual Update on the UDS Sealant Measure!

📆 Tuesday, December 16
⏰ 9am PT • 10am MT • 11am CT • Noon ET

This annual session will provide an update to the UDS Sealants Measure including national data results, the measure specifications and promising practices for improving on the UDS Sealants Measure. 1.0 CDE is available.

➡️ Register here: https://buff.ly/5Q5bFMD

11/25/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! We're grateful for the health centers and oral health providers across the country who bring compassionate care to their communities. Your dedication inspires us every day. 💙💚

Our office will be closed November 28 and 29 for the holiday. May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy, rest, and connection!

11/24/2025

Applications for the Improving UDS Sealant Measure Small Group Training (formerly Learning Collaborative) are due next week!

This Small Group Training will support health centers that fell below the national average (59.4%) for the UDS Sealants Measure to learn strategies to improve their measure. The training will take place from January to May 2026. Topics include caries risk assessment, documenting exclusion, and clinical strategies to improve the measure.

➡️ Online applications close on December 1. Apply here: https://buff.ly/ZBuTk8R

11/19/2025

Apply for the Dental Assistant Workforce Small Group Training (formerly Learning Collaborative) by Friday!

This small group training will help health centers develop a framework to establish an in-house dental assistant training program. The virtual training includes six 90-minute webinars from January to June 2026. Topics include budgeting, curriculum development, sustainability, career ladders, and training. Online applications close on November 21.

➡️ Apply here: https://forms.gle/NnwVcZAzg7GJ7P3bA

11/04/2025

Attending the NNOHA Annual Conference? Don't forget to download the Conference App before you arrive! Just follow these steps:

1️⃣ Click this link to download the “Cvent Events” app from your app store: https://buff.ly/71raOPT
2️⃣ Open the app, search for NNOHA, and download the 2025 NNOHA event.
3️⃣ Log in with the name and email address you used to register for the conference.
4️⃣ Watch for a verification code that will be texted to your mobile number.
5️⃣ Allow notifications to receive important updates.

10/24/2025

Have you seen the impact of Medicaid dental benefits in your practice? Do you treat patients who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access care? Share your experience through the ADA Medicaid StoryBank! Your story will help us advocate for maintaining and improving dental coverage in Medicaid programs.

📢 Share your story at ada.org/StoryBank

➡️ Learn more: https://www.nnoha.org/news-1/2025-storybank

10/22/2025

We are thrilled to partner with The American Institute of Dental Public Health to mark this year's LGBTQIA+ Oral Health Week under the guiding theme, “Dental Care as a Human Right: Advancing Oral Health Justice Through Community Empowerment.”

A trained and culturally affirming oral health workforce is critical to improving the oral health and well-being of q***r people. Recent research from AIDPH indicated students reported feeling unprepared to treat the unique oral health needs of LGBTQIA+ patients due to the lack of training and clinical instruction related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and affirming communication practices in clinical settings. Read more here: https://aidph.org/inclusion-dental-education/

10/20/2025

Headed to the NACHC Workforce Conference in Las Vegas this week? Don't miss these sessions featuring NNOHA leadership on Wednesday, Oct 22!

🔵 8:30 AM: NNOHA's Board President, An Nguyen, DDS, MPH, will speak during the Closing Plenary Session

🟢 10:45 AM: Cheryl Parker, MS, CAE, our Executive Director, will speak on the panel: “Bridging the Gaps: Effective Strategies for Service Integration in Community Health”

🔵 2:45 PM: Candace Owen, RDH, MS, MPH, our Senior Director of Education and Strategic Partnerships, and Ethan Kerns, DDS, our Immediate Past President, will present: “Optimizing Recruitment and Retention of Dental Professionals in Health Centers”

We hope to see you there!

📣 Registration is STILL OPEN for NACHC’s 2025 Workforce Conference!

📅 October 21–22, 2025
📍 Caesars Palace | Las Vegas, NV

Join Community Health Center leaders from across the nation at the premier gathering focused on workforce innovation, financial sustainability, operations, health IT, and clinical service delivery.

✅ Learn from top experts and Community Health Center leaders
✅ Gain tools and data-driven strategies to address workforce challenges
✅ Connect with peers advancing affordable, high-quality primary care

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your workforce and build the future of Community Health Centers.

🔗 Register today: https://bit.ly/4go6FQr