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Description of the data source, numerator, denominator, survey questions, and other relevant details about the national estimate.
Number of State (including the District of Columbia) and local health Agencies that serve jurisdictions of 250,000 or more persons that have a public dental health program directed by a dental professional with public health training (out of 218)
Number of State (including the District of Columbia) and local health Agencies that serve jurisdictions of 250,000 or more persons (218 at baseline)
From the 2009 Annual Synopses of State and Territorial Dental Public Health Programs:
[NUMERATOR:]
How many State/Territorial and local health agencies in your State have a service population of 250,000 or more? [Include the State or Territory health program if the State or Territory population is 250,000 or more.]
How many of the agencies included in the response immediately above have a dental program? [To be counted, a program should have a separate budget.]
How many of the dental programs included in the response immediately above are directed by a dental professional? (i.e., dentist, hygienist, or dental assistant)
How many of the directors included in the response immediately above have a masters or higher public health related degree? (MPH, MSPH, MSHA, PhD, DrPH)
The Association of State and Territorial State Dental Directors fields an annual survey, the Synopsis of State and Territorial Dental Public Health Programs. The Synopses collects data for the prior completed fiscal year, for example, the 2009 Synopsis reflect responses for the period of July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008 for most states. A health agency is considered to have a public health dental program directed by a dental professional with public health training if the dental program director is (1) a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant and (2) has at least a master or higher public health related degree.
