History

The CDA Foundation was formed as the philanthropic affiliate of the California Dental Association in 2001 with the mission to improve the oral health of Californians by supporting the dental health professional and its efforts to meet community needs. The CDA Foundation’s overall purpose is to:

• Promote the concept that oral health and general health are inseparable, as oral health is critical to the total health and well-being of an individual.
• Provide grant opportunities to community-based organizations and individuals to reduce disparities in access to oral health care and assist in meeting the immediate needs of vulnerable populations.
• Promote and support a dynamic oral health workforce capable of meeting the oral health needs of Californians.
• Represent the philanthropic values of the dental profession.

The fact is every day in California, millions of people including children, working families and the elderly, live in constant pain as a result of oral disease. Most of these people have no other choice because they lack basic resources such as dental insurance, personal finances or transportation for seeking critical preventive and restorative dental care.

The CDA Foundation helps bridge this gap by promoting the total health of Californians through oral health disease prevention, risk assessment and treatment initiatives. The CDA Foundation works with experts in the dental profession, private business, academic institutions and government to produce programs that increase access to care, promote prevention education and intervention, advance health policy research and build a sustainable oral health workforce.