The mission of the North Dakota Oral Health Program is to improve the oral health of all North Dakotans through prevention and education. The primary goal of the Oral Health Program is to prevent and reduce oral disease by:
- Promoting the use of innovative and cost-effective approaches for oral health promotion and disease prevention.
- Fostering community and statewide partnerships to promote oral health and improve access to dental care.
- Increasing awareness of the importance of preventive oral health care.
- Identifying and reducing oral health disparities among specific population groups.
- Facilitating the transfer of new research into practice.
The North Dakota Department of Health Oral Health Program is located within the, Healthy and Safe Communities section under the Division of Health Promotion.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's State Actions to Improve Oral Health
The North Dakota Department of Health Oral Health Program was awarded the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s State Actions to Improve Oral Health Outcomes. This grant was awarded September 2018 and is a five-year award. Under this grant, the North Dakota Oral Health Program works to decrease dental caries, oral health disparities, and other chronic diseases co-morbid with poor oral health. In North Dakota, these efforts include:
- School-based sealant programs
- Support for community water fluoridation
- Oral health data surveillance
- Medical-dental integration, blood pressure pilot program
Health Resources and Services Administration’s Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities
The North Dakota Department of Health Oral Health Program was awarded the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities. This grant was awarded September 2018 and is a four-year award. The purpose of this grant is to help states develop and implement innovative programs to address the dental workforce needs of designated dental health professional shortage areas (Dental HPSAs) in a manner appropriate to each state’s
individual needs. In North Dakota, these efforts include:
- School-based sealant programs
- Dental student rotations in Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers
- Medical-dental integration in family medical settings
- Emergency room diversion for dental concerns
Our Team
Cheri Kiefer
Director, Oral Health Program
Phone: (701) 328-4930
Email: ckiefer@nd.gov
Toni Hruby
Oral Health Prevention Coordinator
Phone: (701) 328-4515
Email: tlhruby@nd.gov
Jesse Tran
Community Clinical Coordinator
Phone: (701) 328-2419
Email: jtran@nd.gov
Anastasia Stepanov
Oral Health Epidemiologist
Phone: (701) 328-1292
Email: astepanov@nd.gov
Vanessa Bopp
Public Health Hygienist
Phone: (701) 328-4522
Email: vbopp@nd.gov