Center for Oral Health Hosts 2025 Symposium and 40th Anniversary Gala

Oral Health & Quality of Life Among Older Adults: Advancing Access Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Center for Oral Health (COH) will convene leading voices in dentistry, medicine, aging services, and public health for its 2025 Symposium and 40th Anniversary Gala at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento.

This year’s symposium, “Oral Health & Quality of Life Among Older Adults: Advancing Access Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration,” will spotlight solutions to one of California’s most pressing challenges: ensuring equitable access to oral health care for the state’s growing older adult population. Attendees will gain insights from local, state, and national leaders; explore findings from A Healthy Smile Never Gets Old 2.0; and learn about innovative care models, policy reforms, and community-driven strategies.

Featured sessions include:

• Dr. Shakalpi Pendurkar, DDS, MPH, FICD, FACD, California’s State Dental Director, who will deliver a keynote highlighting state-level strategies to advance equity for aging populations, including surveillance, program development, and cross-sector collaboration shaping California’s aging policy.
• Dr. Rich Rosato, DMD, President-Elect of the American Dental Association and oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who will share a keynote on how evolving federal policy can influence access, equity, and quality of oral health care for older adults nationwide.
• Dr. Paul Glassman, DDS, MA, MBA, Associate Dean at California Northstate University, College of Dental Medicine, and Professor Emeritus at the University of the Pacific. As a nationally recognized leader in oral health systems reform, Dr. Glassman will explore pioneering models such as teledentistry, virtual dental homes, and integrated care strategies. He will also address implementation challenges and share practical tools to help providers, policymakers, and health systems expand these solutions statewide.
• Robert Milam, MPH, Research and Evaluation Manager at the Center for Oral Health will highlight findings from A Healthy Smile Never Gets Old 2.0 and demonstrate how this data can inform both practice and policy.

The event will provide 6.25 CE units in partnership with California Northstate University, College of Dental Medicine.

A Night of Celebration: The 40th Anniversary Gala

Following the symposium, the 40th Anniversary Gala will offer an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and impact. Guests will enjoy:

• An opportunity to celebrate four decades of innovation and advocacy
• Music, a silent auction, and a casino-themed fundraising experience
• An inspiring keynote address by Dr. Lisa E. Simon, MD, DMD, a nationally recognized leader transforming the intersection of medicine and dentistry
• Recognition of the 2025 Hero Awardees, including:
  • Liberty Dental Plan of California
  • Access Dental Plan
  • Health Net Community Solutions
  • DentaQuest
  • First 5 Sacramento Commission
  • Bear Valley Community Healthcare District
  • Maryam Ayn, Elk Grove Unified School District
  • Cathy Levering Award Honoree: Sofia Gutierrez

Guests are encouraged to dress in evening attire for this milestone celebration supporting COH’s mission to create healthier smiles for generations to come.

Honoring Our Sponsors

The Center for Oral Health is proud to recognize the organizations whose support makes this event possible:

• Silver Sponsors: Smile Partners America, Inc/Big Smiles, American Dental Education Association (ADEA), Inland Empire Health Plan Foundation, Health Net, LLC, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Delta Dental of California, DentaQuest, LLC
• Bronze Sponsors: Elevate Oral Care, LLC, Henry Schein, Inc., Liberty Dental Plan of California, Inc., Overjet, Inc., Oral Health Solutions (OHS), RDH Connect, LLC, The California Wellness Foundation
• Contributors: California Commission on Aging (CCoA), Smile California

Their commitment ensures that COH can continue advancing equity, innovation, and access in oral health for California’s most vulnerable communities.

About the Center for Oral Health

For over 40 years, the Center for Oral Health has been a driving force in advancing oral health equity through innovation, research, education, and advocacy. Founded as the Dental Health Foundation, COH partners with communities, policymakers, and health systems to create sustainable solutions that improve access to care for vulnerable populations across California.

Event Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Location: Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Registration: Click here to register