OpenSmiles Collaborative
OpenSmiles Collaborative
Why OpenSmiles?
Sign up for one course or all three
Dental public health residencies can be time-intensive, but this certification program gives busy clinicians and program leaders a focused way to learn the foundations of quality improvement, innovative care delivery, oral health policy, health program, program planning, and evaluation on their own time.
These courses are best fit for professionals serving rural, underserved, tribal, school-linked, mobile, or other community-based settings.
At a glance:
- 100% online and asynchronous
- Courses start Fall 2026
- Working dental professionals in community-based settings encouraged to apply
- CE-credit eligible
- Office hours and consultation opportunities
Beyond the Chair: Transforming Dental Care Through Innovation
Presented by Dr. Eni Obadan-Udoh, University of Utah School of Dentistry - Fall 2026
Register by September 4, 2026
Facilitated by artificial intelligence, investigate practical models for reaching patients beyond the traditional dental chair, then shape an implementation plan for a community-based program.
- Compare medical-dental integration, teledentistry, and virtual dental homes
- Explore school-based, mobile, and expanded workforce models
- Evaluate digital health and AI tools for diagnostics, quality, and efficiency
Foundations of Public Health in Dentistry: Oral Health Promotion, Policy & Evaluation
Presented by Dr. Kristin Hoeft, University of California, San Francisco - Late Fall 2026
Register by November 20, 2026
Connect public health theory with everyday communication, program planning, health promotion, advocacy, and evaluation in oral health settings.
- Apply social determinants of health and Healthy People 2030 concepts
- Use plain language, teach-back, and culturally-sensitive communication
- Identify policy and advocacy steps that support population oral health
Work SMARTer, Not Harder: Quality Improvement in Dental Care Settings
Presented by Dr. Susan Fisher-Owens, University of California, San Francisco - Spring 2026
Register by February 12, 2027
Use quantitative and qualitative feedback to evaluate clinical and operational quality, identify meaningful measures, and drive change in real practice settings.
- Develop a clear quality improvement aim
- Test change on a small scale using plan-do-study-act cycles
- Track implementation and interpret improvement data over time
Outcomes of Program
- Analyze oral health disparities, access barriers, and local service gaps using public health data
- Design a quality improvement intervention with clear measures and a practical testing cycle
- Compare innovative delivery models against the barriers they are designed to address
- Apply policy, promotion, communication, and evaluation tools to community-based oral health programs
- Synthesize course concepts into and implementation plan for your practice or program
- Build leadership confidence for dental public health work while continuing to serve patients
Funded by HRSA Award #: 2 D88HP37553-06-00
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed in this material are those of the author/speaker and not necessarily those of the University of Utah School of Dentistry and University of California, San Francisco.