New research and shifting public health are drawing dentistry into the national conversation on vaccines in ways you probably never imagined.
By Genni Burkhart
One of the most significant achievements in the history of science is the development of vaccines and their profound effect on human health. The very first vaccine was discovered over 200 years ago, with the development of the smallpox vaccine in 1796. Since then, vaccines have prevented more than 20 life-threatening diseases, including hepatitis B, influenza, tetanus, rabies, measles, polio, and tuberculosis. Vaccination also plays a crucial role in managing infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and remains a vital strategy in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only a few states allowed dentists to provide the influenza vaccine. During the pandemic, all states temporarily authorized dentists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, and several have since passed laws that extend this authority beyond emergency conditions. As more states consider similar measures, dentistry is gaining traction as a new avenue for vaccination uptake. Patients often see their dentist more regularly than their physician, making dentistry a natural place to expand access to immunizations. This emerging role underscores the profession’s capacity to advance prevention and improve public health.
Integrating Vaccination Into Dental Care
In July 2025, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant programs reported that vaccine-coated floss triggered strong immune responses in animal models. Their method, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, delivered vaccine material directly to the gingival sulcus, where it was absorbed through the tissue and activated local and systemic immunity. In July, Discover Magazine highlighted the potential for a new floss-based vaccine delivery as a benefit to patients that doesn't rely on needles or nasal sprays, rather, by simply flossing one's teeth. (Cull, 2025). Unlike traditional injections that primarily create antibodies in the bloodstream, this approach triggers defenses on mucosal surfaces, adding protection where many infections begin. Because the junctional epithelium around the teeth is naturally more permeable than most oral tissues, it offers dentistry a unique pathway for advancing immunization.
“Mucosal surfaces are important because they are a source of entry for pathogens, such as influenza and COVID,” said Harvinder Singh Gill, Ronald B. and Cynthia J. McNeill Term Professor in Nanomedicine at North Carolina State University.
Meanwhile, research data has revealed that dental appointments are already positioned to support higher vaccination rates. A program covered in Healio reported higher HPV vaccine uptake when doses were offered during dental visits. Instead of relying on separate referrals, families received counseling and the first dose in the same clinic, improving series completion rates (Kellner and DiBerardino, 2025).
It's also important to note that programs like these rely heavily on workflow planning. Dental teams in this program determine when and how to introduce the vaccine conversation, clarify with patients who is responsible for follow-up, and ensure communication is well documented. These operational changes don't require new licensure or external oversight. They do, however, result in measurable improvements in prevention, highlighting the value of dental visits as an access point for vaccinations.
Even in clinics that don't administer vaccines, this approach can still apply. A firm recommendation, same-day referral to a partner clinic, and follow-up at the next dental visit increase the odds of vaccine completion. Dental visits can sometimes be more routine and frequent than medical visits for some families, making them a practical point of engagement.
Vaccines Face New Roadblocks
These developments come as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduces new vaccine barriers. In August 2025, federal agencies pulled funding from multiple mRNA vaccine projects. Vaccine experts and public health leaders united to issue warnings that this decision will slow the development of future vaccines and increase costs for patients and providers (Alvarado, 2025; Public Health On Call, 2025).
Given the efficacy of mRNA vaccines in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we've witnessed how immunizations are no longer a topic for primary care alone. Jessica L. Jack, MD, a pediatrician at Denver Health and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, whose work includes collaborating with dental clinics to expand access to adolescent vaccines, stated, in Healio, “In the current climate of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, it is crucial that every health care professional reinforces the importance of vaccination." She continues, “By working together across disciplines, whether in medicine, dentistry, or beyond, we can ensure that vaccinations are accessible in every setting where patients engage with the health care system.”
Dentistry’s Role in Vaccine Access
Dentistry is moving into vaccine delivery at a moment when scientific breakthroughs and public health policy are being pulled in opposite directions. Clinical research is proving that gingival sulcus can be used as a site for immunization, while practical programs prove that offering vaccines in the dental chair increases uptake and completion. These medical advances support long-standing evidence that vaccines remain the most effective tool for preventing illness and protecting against seasonal threats like influenza (CDC, 2024; Andre et al., 2008).
As NIH funding cuts slow development and vaccine misinformation persists, dentistry provides patients with another reliable point of care. By incorporating immunization counseling, referrals, or direct administration where authorized, dental professionals are not only broadening patient access but also reinforcing the foundation of preventative medicine, built on hundreds of years of vaccine effectiveness.
Author: With over 15 years as an award-winning journalist, editor, and writer, Genni Burkhart has covered everything from news, politics, and healthcare to finance, corporate leadership, and technology. As editor-in-chief of The Incisor newsletter and blog and editorial writer at DOCS Education, she brings a refreshing insight and a passion for storytelling to the world of sedation dentistry.
References
Ingrole, R.S.J., Shakya, A.K., Joshi, G. et al. Floss-based vaccination targets the gingival sulcus for mucosal and systemic immunization. Nat. Biomed. Eng (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-025-01451-3
Alvarado, D. (2025, August 6). HHS abandons mRNA vaccine research. Healthcare Dive. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/kennedy-mrna-vaccines-barda-hhs-can…
Cull, M. (2025, July 29). Dental floss has potential to deliver vaccines, replacing needles or nasal sprays. Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/dental-floss-has-potential-to-deliver-…
Kellner, S., and DiBerardino, C. L. (2025, April 18). Offering HPV vaccines at dental visits improved uptake among children. Healio Pediatrics. https://www.healio.com/news/pediatrics/20250418/offering-hpv-vaccines-a…
Graham, R., Barnes, R., Zokaie, T., & McCune, M. (2023). Pathogens, Testing, and Vaccines: California Dentists’ Role in the Public Health Response to COVID-19. Journal of the California Dental Association, 51(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19424396.2023.2236295
Public Health On Call. (2025, August 13). How cuts to mRNA vaccine development will set the U.S. back. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/risks-of-cuts-to-mrna-vaccine-develop…
Shipman, M. (2025, July 28). Why you may get future vaccines via dental floss. NC State News. https://news.ncsu.edu/2025/07/vaccines-via-dental-floss/
