NCDHP Surveys

Before reviewing a survey report, see how NCDHP’s ACCESS framework (below) guides our work and interpretation.

The National Council of Dentist Health Programs (NCDHP) conducts surveys of state dental societies and dental boards to understand how professional well‑being initiatives intersect with regulatory processes. Together, these surveys provide a national picture of current approaches, emerging needs, and opportunities to strengthen systems that support dental professionals and protect the public. New reports will be added here as they are completed.

For State Dental Societies
State dental societies are encouraged to review the ACCESS framework before exploring survey findings. The full SDS Survey Report and supporting materials are available for download on this page.

For State Dental Boards
Some state dental boards were not reached in the initial board survey distribution. Boards that would like to review the survey, participate, or learn more about our work are welcome to connect with us. A separate report summarizing board responses will be posted here when completed.

State-level dentist health programs vary widely in structure, resources, and regulatory environments. To support consistency without imposing a one-size-fits-all model, NCDHP uses the ACCESS framework to organize evidence-informed practices that strengthen systems while respecting local context. 

 A — Alignment
Early identification of stress, burnout, or impairment in dental professionals is critical to protect provider health and ensure patient safety. Alignment among professional societies, remediation programs, and licensing boards means that all parties share a clear understanding of roles and expectations, enabling timely detection and response before issues escalate. 

C — Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality builds trust between dental professionals, support programs, and regulatory boards, encouraging early engagement and effective assistance. Participants’ need assurance that personal health information will be protected. Boards need assurance that programs will notify them when issues occur, supporting both provider health and public safety.

Collaboration
Encouraging productive engagement among dental societies, dental boards, and well‑being programs to strengthen coordination and shared understanding.

Effectiveness
Identifying approaches that demonstrate real‑world impact and helping states evaluate and improve their systems.

Sustainability
Supporting long‑term structures and partnerships that can be maintained over time and adapted as needs evolve.

Safety
Emphasizing practices and processes that advance safe care, uphold professional standards, and protect the public while supporting providers.