The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, Inc.

01/08/2026

The salute to smiles program offers veterans who cant afford dental services an opportunity to possibly receive free dental work. Check out the Salute to Smiles image below for more information.

01/05/2026

🦷 The dental divide here in is bigger than many realize.

While 11% of households fall below the Federal Poverty Level, an additional 29% are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) — working families who earn too much to qualify for assistance but not enough to afford basic necessities, like dental care. That means 40% of Connecticut households are struggling to make ends meet and not accessing the care they need to thrive.

When routine dental care is delayed or out of reach, the consequences go far beyond oral health, impacting overall health, confidence, employment opportunities, and quality of life.

United for ALICE's new Oral Health ALICE Issue Brief takes a closer look at how financial insecurity drives unequal access to dental care and outcomes across Connecticut and beyond—and why understanding ALICE households is imperative to closing the dental divide. Thank you United For ALICE for shedding a comprehensive light on this critical issue.

🔗 Read the full issue brief to learn more: https://www.unitedforalice.org/dental-divide?stateFP=09

Maintaining oral health is critical to overall physical, mental, social, and economic well-being. Oral health affects a person's ability to eat and to speak clearly; their self-image and how they are perceived by others; and, crucially, their ability to work and participate in community activities.....

01/01/2026

from the COHI team! ✨🦷

Thank you for being part of our mission to expand access to oral health care. Your generosity fuels our advocacy, education, and programming—helping build a future where is a reality in . Kick off the year with us at tinyurl.com/GiveToCOHI 🩵

Wishing you hope, good health, and happiness in 2026!

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative! Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season 🎁🦷

As we reflect during this time, we remain grateful for all who stood with us throughout the year. Your commitment helps us uplift community voices, advance strong oral health policies, and push for systems that work for everyone. As we look toward 2026, please consider a year-end contribution to keep the momentum going! Any amount gets us one step closer to achieving . Together, we can create lasting change and improve oral health outcomes across Connecticut. Give a gift today at: tinyurl.com/GiveToCOHI 💙

12/16/2025

Nearly 1 million residents struggle to access dental care due to cost, long wait times, and difficulty finding in-network providers. At the same time, Medicaid and critical public health protections are under increasing threat, putting access to care at risk for thousands of children and adults across our state.

In response, COHI is working every day—at the Capitol and in communities statewide—to protect oral health equity. Over the past year, we have collaborated with partners to strengthen coalitions, elevate community voices, and defend access to care by:
• Protecting community water fluoridation for more than two million Connecticut residents
• Increasing funding for community health centers to expand essential dental services
• Advancing efforts to expand adult Medicaid preventive dental coverage
• Conducting statewide research to identify barriers and shape policy solutions

While these victories matter, significant challenges lie ahead. In 2026, thousands of Connecticut residents could lose no-cost health insurance, and proposed federal Medicaid cuts threaten care for low-income children and adults—disproportionately impacting veterans, older adults, people with disabilities, and communities of color.

As Connecticut’s leading oral health advocacy organization, COHI is committed to protecting these programs and the people who rely on them. When you give to COHI, you support advocacy, research, workforce development, and education that expand access to care and advance lasting policy change.

Together, we can safeguard oral health—and ensure that every Connecticut resident has the opportunity to achieve a healthy smile. Help lead the charge toward and give a gift of any size today: https://www.ctoralhealth.org/leadpartner

12/11/2025

TONIGHT! Ring in the holiday season with a festive celebration and fundraiser to support oral health initiatives in CT on Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 5:30–7:30 PM at Crystal Ridge Winery in South Glastonbury 🥂 ❄️

As we gather this holiday season, we are reminded how vital it is to protect access to care. With growing threats to Medicaid, public health programs, and oral health benefits, your support matters more than ever.

By giving to COHI, you help ensure that everyone in Connecticut can afford the dental care they need to stay healthy and thrive. Together, we can make a real difference this season and beyond.

Enjoy light refreshments, a cash bar, and the company of friends who share your commitment to a healthier future for all. Join us for an evening of connection, gratitude, and good cheer.♥️

Hope to see you there; RSVP now at tinyurl.com/COHIHolidayCelebration

12/10/2025

TOMORROW! Join us!

Ring in December with us! Join COHI for a festive holiday celebration and fundraiser to support oral health initiatives in CT on Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 5:30–7:30 PM at Crystal Ridge Winery in South Glastonbury
🥂 ❄️

As we gather this holiday season, we are reminded how vital it is to protect access to care. With growing threats to Medicaid, public health programs, and oral health benefits, your support matters more than ever.

By giving to COHI, you help ensure that everyone in Connecticut can afford the dental care they need to stay healthy and thrive. Together, we can make a real difference this season and beyond.

Enjoy light refreshments, a cash bar, and the company of friends who share your commitment to a healthier future for all. Join us for an evening of connection, gratitude, and good cheer. ♥️

Hope to see you there; RSVP now: https://tinyurl.com/COHIHolidayCelebration

12/01/2025

Ring in December with us! Join COHI for a festive holiday celebration and fundraiser to support oral health initiatives in CT on Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 5:30–7:30 PM at Crystal Ridge Winery in South Glastonbury
🥂 ❄️

As we gather this holiday season, we are reminded how vital it is to protect access to care. With growing threats to Medicaid, public health programs, and oral health benefits, your support matters more than ever.

By giving to COHI, you help ensure that everyone in Connecticut can afford the dental care they need to stay healthy and thrive. Together, we can make a real difference this season and beyond.

Enjoy light refreshments, a cash bar, and the company of friends who share your commitment to a healthier future for all. Join us for an evening of connection, gratitude, and good cheer. ♥️

Hope to see you there; RSVP now: https://tinyurl.com/COHIHolidayCelebration

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative! 🍂🦃

As we gather around the table today with family and friends, let’s remember that a healthy smile is something to be thankful for. Good oral health helps us enjoy the foods we love, connect with one another, and supports overall well-being. 💙

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday filled with gratitude, good health, and plenty of reasons to smile. And be sure to enjoy all those treats, but don't forget to brush and floss before that post-turkey drowsiness kicks in! 🦷✨

11/19/2025

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: You're invited to take part in a powerful day that brings together advocates, policymakers, providers and community leaders who believe everyone deserves access to the care they need to stay healthy.

This January, at COHI's first-ever Connecticut Oral Health Summit, we'll take a look at how national policy and funding changes are shaping access to care and what those shifts mean for Connecticut. Our state’s legislative champions will share their vision and priorities for the upcoming session and show how each of us can help protect and advance oral health for every resident. 🦷

Leading experts will spark fresh conversations about the connection between oral and overall health, the value of prevention, and the policy solutions that can drive lasting change. In interactive breakout sessions, you will collaborate with peers, sharpen your advocacy message, and commit to actions that move the needle, from testifying and meeting with lawmakers to mobilizing your community.

Together, we will turn ideas into impact, strengthen our collective voice, and build a future where oral health is a priority for all. This is a free event but donations to support advancing access to oral health in CT are welcomed. A full buffet breakfast will be provided for attendees at 8:30am. Let's kick off the new year with advocacy -- together! Register now for this event: https://tinyurl.com/2026COHISummit ✍️

11/13/2025

We're proud to partner with The American Institute of Dental Public Health for Veteran Oral Health Week, an annual national campaign dedicated to raising awareness and sharing resources for veterans’ oral health.

Connecticut is home to over 150,000 Veterans, with more than 36,000 residing in Greater Hartford. Many Veterans, once out of active duty, are no longer eligible for dental insurance through the Veterans Administration. Some may have private insurance, but lower-income Veterans often do not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford private plans due to pension-related income limits.

At COHI, we're increasing capacity for Veterans' oral health through our newest initiative, Salute to Smiles. Made possible by Delta Dental Foundation, this program provides free dental care to Greater Hartford Veterans with a limited VA connection and financial constraints keeping them from getting the oral health care they need.

Veterans cannot be fully healthy without proper oral health care. Salute to Smiles seeks to honor their service by connecting them with quality oral health education, preventive care, and treatment resources.

Learn more and sign up at: ctoralhealth.org/salute