Health Literacy in Dentistry

ADA policy defines oral health literacy as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate oral health decisions. It also recognizes that by improving health literacy, patients are better stewards of their own health. You can improve health literacy by using simple communication with the patient and confirming comprehension so that the risk of miscommunication is minimized. You can support patients' efforts to improve their oral health by using strategies that make the dental office environment and health care system easier to navigate.

Health Literacy Video Contest

For general contest questions or technical questions email caap@ada.org.

View Past Winning Video

Health Literacy Resources

Action Guide for health literacy

Become a better communicator with your patients and staff so that the information you share with them is easily understood and can be acted upon. Read the action guide.

Increasing the Dental Team's Knowledge of Health Literacy

CDC Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals
A web-based course to educate public health professionals on the importance of health literacy and their role in providing health information and services and promoting public health literacy.
Federal Plain Language Guidelines
The website contains training and resources for writing plain language.
Center for Plain Language
The website contains best practices for using, learning, and teaching plain language.
Smiles for life - A National Oral Health Curriculum
Smiles for Life produces educational resources to ensure the integration of oral health and primary care
National Oral Health Literacy Toolkit
These resources explain oral health literacy concepts and their benefits for providers and dental patients. It also contains roadmaps and practical tools for boosting the health literacy of dental practices.

Consumer Education

CDC Health Literacy Basics
MouthHealthy.org - American Dental Association's Consumer Website
Oral Health Kansas Tips and Tricks
Healthy Teeth
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center

History of Health Literacy Contest

The ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention (CAAP) sponsored its first Health Literacy Essay Contest for dental students in 2015 per the suggestion of Dr. Sorin Teich, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. The Ohio Dental Association also collaborated on this initiative.

The ADA Dental Student Health Literacy Contest has become a teaching tool for this subject in dental schools throughout the country. This year, NACHLD decided to transition the essay contest to a video format that would allow students to collaborate and utilize their creativity.

The objectives of the contest are to increase students' knowledge about oral health literacy principles and build their skills in communicating effectively with patients. Specifically, we are asking dental students to use proven communication techniques such as “teach-back” and “motivational interviewing” to educate patients. This year we are asking students to develop a 3–4-minute video educating patients on misinformation.