US Code

Public Law 119-102 (07/12/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 280k

Oral healthcare prevention education campaign

Section text and notes

(a)

Establishment of Oral Health Education Campaign

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with professional oral health organizations, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish a 5-year national, public education campaign (referred to in this section as the “campaign”) that is focused on oral health education, including prevention of oral disease such as early childhood and other caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer.

(b)

Requirements

In establishing the campaign under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1)
1
1 See References in Text note below.
ensure that activities are targeted towards specific populations such as children, pregnant women, parents, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minority populations, including Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 1603(c)  of title 25) in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner; and
(2)
utilize science-based strategies to convey oral health prevention messages that include, but are not limited to, community water fluoridation and dental sealants.
(c)

Action for dental health program

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to collaborate with State or local public health officials, tribal health officials, oral health professional organizations, and others, as appropriate, to develop and implement initiatives to improve oral health, including activities to prevent dental disease and reduce barriers to the provision of dental services, including—
(A)
through community-wide dental disease prevention programs; and
(B)
by increasing public awareness and education related to oral health and dental disease prevention.
(2)

Eligible entities

To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this subsection, an entity shall be—
(A)
a dental association;
(B)
a State or tribal health department or State or tribal oral health program;
(C)
an accredited dental education, dental hygiene, or postdoctoral dental education program; or
(D)
a non-profit community-based organization that partners with public and private non-profit entities, such as an academic institution, to facilitate the provision of dental services to underserved populations.

July 1, 1944, ch. 373 Pub. L. 111–148, title IV, § 4102(a)124 Stat. 550 Pub. L. 115–302, § 2(a)132 Stat. 4396 (, title III, § 399LL, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1603(c) of title 25section 1603(13) of title 25Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a)124 Stat. 935 , referred to in subsec. (b)(1), which defines “Indians”, was redesignated by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–302, § 2(a)(1)2018—Subsec. (a). , inserted “of Oral Health Education Campaign” after “Establishment” in heading and substituted “focused on oral health education” for “focused on oral healthcare prevention and education” in text.

Pub. L. 115–302, § 2(a)(2)Subsec. (b). , substituted “campaign under subsection (a)” for “campaign” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 115–302, § 2(a)(3)Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Not later than 2 years after , the Secretary shall begin implementing the 5-year campaign. During the 2-year period referred to in the previous sentence, the Secretary shall conduct planning activities with respect to the campaign.”