How NCDHP Began

NCDHP traces its origins to efforts in Massachusetts to rebuild support for dental professionals after the state's dentist diversion program ended. Those efforts included pursuing legislation, strengthening peer assistance and monitoring, and encouraging broader well-being programming within the state dental society.

In developing those initiatives, we looked to the physician community for guidance. There we found an established national network that brought together Physician Health Programs, state medical societies, licensing boards, and other stakeholders to strengthen physician health efforts while preserving state leadership.

That experience revealed a similar opportunity in dentistry. While many dentists already had access to Physician Health Programs for evaluation, treatment, and monitoring, there was no national organization focused on helping states strengthen collaboration, share successful approaches, and build the broader systems of support that improve well-being.

NCDHP was founded to help fill that need.

Every dental professional should have access to appropriate well-being support, regardless of where they practice.

NCDHP works to strengthen the systems that make that possible by fostering collaboration among state dental societies, dentist health programs, licensing boards, educators, and other stakeholders. Through collaboration, shared resources, and practical guidance, we help strengthen well-being support across the profession.