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AAPHD Encourages Members to Submit Comments on EPA Review of Science on Fluoride in Drinking Water

The American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) is urging its members and partners to submit public comments to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its recently posted Review of Science on Fluoride in Drinking Water: Preliminary Assessment Plan and Literature Survey.

The document, released by the EPA as part of its ongoing evaluation of fluoride in drinking water, outlines the agency’s proposed approach for reviewing current scientific evidence. As a leading voice in advancing oral health and promoting evidence-based community water fluoridation, AAPHD believes it is essential that public health professionals contribute their expertise during this important review process.

“Community water fluoridation remains one of the most effective, equitable, and evidence-supported public health measures for preventing dental caries,” said Dr. Richie Kohli, AAPHD President.  "We strongly encourage our members to carefully review the EPA’s preliminary assessment plan and submit informed, science-based comments to ensure that the best available evidence is reflected in federal decision-making.”

AAPHD emphasizes the importance of rigorous scientific evaluation and transparent public engagement. Member input can help ensure that the EPA’s review accurately reflects decades of peer-reviewed research demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of optimally fluoridated drinking water in reducing tooth decay and improving oral health outcomes.

Members are encouraged to:

  • Review the EPA’s Preliminary Assessment Plan and Literature Survey in full

  • Assess the scientific methodology and scope of the proposed review

  • Submit formal comments through the EPA’s public comment process by the stated deadline

AAPHD remains committed to supporting sound public health policy grounded in high-quality science. The Association will continue to monitor developments related to fluoride policy and provide updates to its membership.

For more information about the comment submission process, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency website.

 ACS HPVRT Dental Action Guide

We are excited to announce a new resource from the American Cancer Society entitled, "Cancer Prevention Through HPV Vaccination: An Action Guide for Oral Health Professionals," which was co-written with several AAPHD members. This comprehensive guide includes background information about HPV and oropharyngeal cancer, provider education, and recommended actions for oral health providers to prevent HPV-related cancers for their patients. 

Download the Action Guide

AAPHD Announces Launch of DPH Reference Materials Committee

AAPHD is pleased to highlight the launch of its Dental Public Health Reference Materials Committee, a newly created standing committee of AAPHD that is dedicated to advancing excellence in dental public health education and practice. 

The charge of the DPH Reference Materials Committee is to develop and maintain a curated list of essential dental public health references that aligns with the competencies of the Dental Public Health specialty. This effort supports board examination candidates, program directors, and AAPHD members by providing a trusted, competency-based foundation of key resources. 

The committee is responsible for developing and maintaining a reference list that will be:

  • Organized by DPH competency
  • Released at NOHC 2027 and updated annually thereafter
  • Available to all AAPHD members through the members-only section of the AAPHD website

To ensure relevance and alignment with board certification standards, the committee will work in consultation with the American Board of Dental Public Health (ABDPH). Through this initiative, AAPHD reaffirms its commitment to supporting education and lifelong learning in dental public health by providing members with high-quality, relevant, and accessible reference materials. We are grateful to the inaugural members below for sharing their time and expertise toward this effort.

Members:

  • Chair: Sangeeta Gajendra, Eastman Institute for Oral Health 
  • Vice Chair: Lyubov Slashcheva, Apple Tree Dental
  • Mary Tavares, Boston University
  • Sohini Dhar, University of Texas at San Antonio
  • Megan Cloidt, Jacobi Medical Center
  • Kimberly Raleigh, University of Detroit Mercy 
  • Tammy Duangthip, The Ohio State University 
  • Darien Weatherspoon, University of Maryland 
  • Scott Tomar, University of Illinois Chicago
  • Linda Niessen, Kansas City University 
  • Gloria Mejia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
  • Mona Abdelrehim, University of Toronto, Canada 
  • Anneta Bitouni, Texas A&M University 
  • Dalia Meisha, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia

Special Issue for JPHD

Title: Sexual and Gender Minority Oral Health: Advancing Equity and Inclusion

Guest Editors: Fabio Leite and Tamanna Tiwari

Call description: We invite the submission of original research, brief reports, methods papers, reviews, and perspectives that advance understanding of LGBTQIA+ (sexual and gender minority) oral health, with particular attention to population-level disparities and intersectionality. Manuscripts may address, but are not limited to: measurement and reporting of sexual orientation and gender identity in surveys and clinical records; patient-experience outcomes (including dignity and discrimination); innovations in education and training; community-engaged and participatory research; health services and delivery models (coverage, benefits, teledentistry, workforce development); implementation science and quality improvement; ethical considerations and inclusive terminology; and global perspectives, including those from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Abstract submission: Add a title and author names and affiliations. Abstract should be 250 words consisting of four paragraphs, labeled Objectives, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. These sections should describe the problem being addressed in the study, how the study was performed, the salient results (without statistical tests), and what the authors conclude from the results. Submit the abstract to JPHD Abstract Submission

Send your queries to: [email protected]; [email protected]


Key Dates:

• Call for Abstracts: October 15, 2025
• Abstracts due: January 6, 2026
• Full-manuscript invitations: up to February 5, 2026
• Manuscripts due: until June 1, 2026
These are the final deadlines, but reviews and invitations will proceed on a rolling basis—so early submissions are encouraged.

To keep momentum strong, we’ll begin reviews as soon as proposals are received and reviewers confirmed, ensuring that accepted papers move promptly to the editorial team for publication.

Contact: Fabio Leite - [email protected]

Tamanna Tiwari – [email protected]