SF 636 creates a statewide initiative to increase awareness among communities of color and recent immigrants on the importance of early dental preventive intervention and creates a grant program to expand dental practices by adding a chair and necessary dental equipment.

Section 1 (144.3875) requires the Commissioner of Health to implement a statewide initiative to increase awareness among communities of color and recent immigrants on the importance of early preventive dental intervention for infants and toddlers before and after primary teeth appear.  Requires the commissioner to develop educational materials and information for expectant and new parents within targeted communities on the importance of early dental care to prevent early cavities and to develop a distribution plan for these materials.

Section 2 requires the Commissioner of Health to award grants to critical access dentists or nonprofit dental clinics for the purpose of expanding their dental practice by adding a dental chair and necessary dental equipment.  Limits the amount of the award to no more than 33 percent of the total cost of the project expansion.