Oral Public Health Program

The OPHP currently focuses on reaching pregnant people and children ages 5 and under and their parents/ caregivers who are on Medi-Cal health insurance.

The Program works in partnership with community clinics, schools, and other public-health partners to ensure healthy mouths lead to healthy bodies and thriving families. The program’s main focus areas include:

• Coordinating preventive and treatment dental services for children under age 5 and pregnant people who have Medi-Cal.
• Integrating oral-health education into other services (for example, WIC, home visiting, early-childhood sites) to remove systemic barriers to care.
• Linking eligible residents to dental clinics or mobile dental services for exams, cleanings, sealants, fillings and other dental treatment.
• Providing resources for families and providers around first dental visits (for example, by a baby’s first birthday or first tooth) and daily oral-health routines (brushing twice a day, limiting sugary drinks).
• Helping residents navigate insurance and coordination of care (for example, Medi-Cal dental benefits through Health Plan of San Mateo or Smile California) and arranging interpretation or transportation assistance when needed.

By focusing on young children, pregnant people and families, the program works to reduce dental disease early, support lifelong oral health habits and build healthier communities in San Mateo County.