Dr. Burton Edelstein

Biography

Burton L. Edelstein, DDS, MPH, is a professor emeritus at Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine, with a career dedicated to improving the oral health of socially disadvantaged children through clinical practice, research, policy, teaching, and advocacy. He has a longstanding background in pediatric dentistry and health policy, having taught part-time at Harvard and the University of Connecticut for two decades. He served as a health aide to Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and played a crucial role in the enactment of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Throughout his career, Edelstein has participated in numerous health initiatives, including directing the Surgeon General’s Workshop on Children's Oral Health and serving on the federal Medicaid and CHIP Payment Access Commission. He founded the Children’s Dental Health Project, advocating for legislative mandates on dental benefits for children. As a leader in population oral health management, he established dual degree programs at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. Edelstein has directed significant federal training grants and developed educational technologies to support family engagement in oral health. His extensive publication record includes over 200 works covering various academic and policy-related topics in dental medicine.

Research Interests