Oral Health Group

Be true to your teeth or they'll be false to you!

The Oral Health Group (OHG) at the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) encourages Texas residents to improve and maintain good oral health. The OHG works various partners across the State to identify the oral health needs of Texans and the resources to meet these needs

Our partners include, but are not limited to, the:

• Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC),
• Texas Dental Association (TDA),
• Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentists (TAPD),
• Texas Dental Hygienists' Association (TDHA),
• Texas Dental Hygiene Educators' Association (TDHEA),
• Texas Oral Health Coalition (TOHC),
• Various regional oral health coalitions,
• THSteps,
• Texas Fluoridation Project (TFP),
• Women, Infants, and Children's (WIC) Program,
• Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office,
• Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program,
• Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHSN) Program,
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention,
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA),
• Local Health Departments,
• School Nurses,
• School Districts,
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Dental and Dental Hygiene Schools,
• University of Texas Dental Branch, Houston,
• University of Texas A&M, Baylor College of Dentistry,
• Texas Nurses' Association,
• Faith-based organizations, and
• Community-based organizations across Texas.

As a result of Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General and the subsequent release of A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health , the awareness of the link between oral health and overall health of individuals has come to light.

OHG staff are located in Austin, Lubbock, Tyler, Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. These dental public health professionals provide preventive dental services to low-income, underserved, pre-school, and school-aged children who are Texas residents.

For more information, please contact the OHG regional staff or staff in the Austin Central Office at:

Oral Health Group
Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street, Mail Code 1938
P. O. Box 149347
Austin, Texas 78714-9347
Phone 512-458-7323 / Fax: 512-458-7256

Texas Health Steps

If your child is enrolled in Medicaid and is under 21 years old, call a THSteps Outreach Counselor to learn more about THSteps. Outreach Counselors are ready to help you Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, at:

1-877-THSTEPS or 1-877-847-8377
TDD 1-800-735-2988
(The call is free!)

Or visit the THSteps web site.

E-mail the Oral Health Group.

Last Updated September 7, 2007