Californians face significant dental public health problems. To address these problems, state government, professional organizations, and philanthropic entities in some areas have joined forces. Major issues such as fluoridation, access to care, and the role of the Dental Board of California are examined in terms of the varying roles these critical segments play in affecting the oral health of Californians. This issue of the Journal is dedicated to an examination of public health dentistry in California. While often thought of as innovative and at the "cutting-edge," the state presents a mixed picture of publicly funded oral health programs. Public health concerns sometimes take a lower priority or are overlooked by state government in an era of cutbacks. California lags behind other states in many public goods crucial to the overall quality of life of its residents. This dichotomy is evident in dental public health as it is in education, general health, and air quality. This paper assesses selected dental public health programs, identifying those where innovations have occurred and other program areas where the state has inadequately addressed the dental public health needs of its population.