About NCDHP

As a dedicated council supporting health programs for dental professionals across the United States, our mission is to enhance the well-being of dental practitioners by promoting collaboration, advocacy, and education within the health care community. Through networking, sharing resources, and establishing best practices, NCDHP works to empower state programs to effectively support the unique challenges faced by dental professionals. Join us in our commitment to strengthening the health and resilience of those who care for others. 

The National Council of Dental Health Programs (NCDHP) was founded out of a shared recognition for the need to support and advance the well-being of dental professionals across the United States. The idea for the Council first emerged during informal discussions between representatives of various state health programs in the dental field, who recognized the unique challenges dentists face, particularly around professional impairment and well-being. These initial conversations centered on how to better identify, intervene, and support dental professionals struggling with issues like substance use, mental health challenges, and burnout.

As representatives from state programs continued to network and share their experiences, they saw a need for a unified, national platform to guide and advocate for these efforts. The Council was formally established with the mission of promoting collaboration among state health programs and providing resources to assist in the early identification, intervention, and remediation of impaired dental professionals.

A Board of Directors was formed, consisting of volunteers who shared the vision of ensuring that state health programs had the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to assist dental professionals in maintaining their health and careers. From its inception, the NCDHP emphasized confidentiality and non-punitive approaches, focusing on encouraging dental professionals to seek help without fear of disciplinary action.

Since its founding, the NCDHP has grown into a volunteer-driven organization that serves as a resource for state programs, sharing best practices, fostering collaboration, and advocating for changes in board licensure questions and monitoring practices to better serve the dental community. Although small in size, NCDHP’s impact has been significant in building connections and creating a unified voice to address the well-being of dental professionals nationwide. 

Mission
Our mission is to support dentist health programs in improving the mental health of dental professionals, thereby improving provider and patient health.

Vision
Our vision is compassionate, accessible, stigma-free support for all dental professionals with substance use and other mental health conditions.

Core Values

• Advocacy: Advocating for the rights, interests, and well-being of dental professionals and promoting policies and practices that support their health and well-being. 

• Compassion: Promoting empathy, understanding, and care for dental professionals facing health challenges and promoting a culture of compassion within the dental community. 

• Collaboration: Fostering collaboration, cooperation, and teamwork among dentist health programs, regulatory boards, and other constituents and stakeholders in organized dentistry to achieve common goals and advance the mission of NCDHP.

• Empowerment: Providing education, resources, and support, empowering dentist health programs to strive for excellence, consistency, and accountability in supporting the health and well-being of dental professionals.

• Inclusivity: Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all its forms and ensuring that NCDHP's programs and initiatives are accessible and relevant to all members of the dental community.