Synergizing Shots and Smiles

Synergizing Shots and Smiles is a Colorado initiative that trains and equips dental clinics to administer the HPV vaccine. By turning routine dental visits into vaccination touchpoints, the program helps prevent HPV-related cancers — including oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancer — and expands access to vaccination in communities that lack consistent primary-care access. The program is funded by Colorado's Amendment 35 Health Disparities and Community Grant Program (HDCGP).

Program Goals

  • Prevent HPV-related cancers — The HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and dramatically reduces lifetime cancer risk when given at the recommended age.
  • Expand vaccination access — Many patients see a dentist regularly but lack a consistent primary care provider; dental offices are uniquely positioned to close this gap.
  • Reduce health disparities — Reach communities with historically lower vaccination rates and higher cancer burdens.
  • Support dental providers — Provide clinical training, patient scripts, EHR templates, storage protocols, and Vaccines for Children (VFC) program guidance.

Site Navigation

  • Home — About the program
  • Provider Toolkit — Full clinical and operational guidance
  • HPV Knowledge Quiz — Interactive assessments for providers

Provider Toolkit Contents

The Provider Toolkit is a comprehensive resource for dental providers supporting HPV vaccine administration and cancer prevention education. It contains the following sections:

  • Introduction — Overview of the toolkit's purpose and how dental teams can use it to reduce cancer risk.
  • Getting Started — First steps for dental practices integrating HPV vaccination into their workflow.
  • HPV & Cancers — Background on HPV, its link to oropharyngeal and other cancers, and current epidemiology.
  • Talking About Vaccines — Evidence-based patient communication strategies in the dental setting.
  • Vaccine Hesitancy — Approaches for addressing concerns and answering common questions, with a video walkthrough.
  • Informed Consent — Consent process, required forms (VIS), and documentation expectations.
  • EHR Documentation — Templates and required fields for documenting HPV vaccine administration.
  • Storage & Handling — Cold chain requirements, temperature monitoring, and excursion protocols.
  • CIIS Registry — Reporting administered doses to the Colorado Immunization Information System.
  • Scripts & Handouts — Downloadable multilingual patient handouts (English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese) and conversation scripts for clinical staff.
  • Training Videos — Scenario-based videos covering agreeable patients, vaccine-concerned caregivers, and questions about the sex/HPV connection.
  • References — Citations for all clinical content, sourced from the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado.

Funding & Disclaimer

This project is funded by the Amendment 35 Health Disparities and Community Grant Program (HDCGP). The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), nor does mention of CDPHE imply its endorsement.

Information adapted from the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado, the American Cancer Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.