“The dental director would bring programs to California’s communities that would increase access to preventive dental programs for kids, such as school sealant programs and educational programs,” said Jenny Kattlove, director of strategic health initiatives for The Children’s Partnership, which sponsored the bill.
Kattlove said California is not taking advantage of all the federal and private money available for dental programs, and a state dental director could identify and apply for those grants.
The new office and dental director wouldn’t be paid for with state general fund dollars, but “other public and private funds” such as grants from foundations, Kattlove said.
