CDHCs work under the supervision of a licensed dentist in compliance with the laws in their respective states. They promote health by providing education, leadership, as well as preventative services to support underserved communities. They are typically members of the community where they serve and are trained to integrate information about oral health and overall health into the community’s own language, culture and value system, thus reducing many of the barriers to health services.

Educational background

The didactic training for CDHCs may be offered online and is supplemented with in-person clinical instruction/assessments. Upon successful completion of the didactic training, CDHC trainees complete an internship in a community setting where dental and health promotion is translated into practice. The duration of the program is based on a number of factors (e.g. the trainees’ past education and/or experience) and is determined by the educational institution, with the time varying between 4 and 18 months of instructional time.

The basic CDHC curriculum consists of 10 modules organized in three main sections as follows:

1. Community health promotion skills:

• Dental Health Outreach and Advocacy
• Oral Health Communication
• Interviewing Skills
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Dental Health

• Introduction to Dentistry
• Screening & Classification
• Prevention of Dental Caries
• Prevention of Oral Cancer
• Financing and Payment for Dental Care

• CDHC Internship

Certification/license requirements

Upon successful completion of their training, CDHCs are awarded a certificate from the educational institution.