The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

National Program on Women & Aging
 

Women & Aging Letter Excerpt
Summer 2003
Volume 7  Number 2

Women and Oral Health

This issue of the Women & Aging Letter focuses on an important, but often overlooked, health issue for midlife and older women — their oral health. Research demonstrates that there are a host of connections between a healthy mouth and overall health. The good news is more older women have and will have more, and healthier, teeth.  At the same time, the expanding population of older women is at risk for dental diseases and will need more preventive, restorative, and periodontal services.

Below is an excerpt from this issue of the newsletter.  Also included in the issue:

Health Conditions and Oral Health:  An Important Link
How to Maintain Oral Health
Medications and Oral Health
Did You Know?  Some Herbal Supplements Affect Your Oral Health
Important Notice to Women & Aging Letter Subscribers

 
Access to Dental Care

Financing dental care for older persons is a huge challenge. Dental insurance is key to utilization of dental care services but a 2003 report card issued by the advocacy group, Oral Health America, reports that adults are three times as likely to be without dental insurance as medical insurance.  And many older Americans, at high risk for oral health problems, have no dental insurance at all.  Thirty-two states received Ds or Fs for having over 70 percent of their elderly report having no dental insurance.

Dental insurance is largely obtained through employment.  The majority of persons lose their dental insurance upon retirement. Only 22 percent of older persons are covered by private dental insurance.  Most of the cost of elderly persons’ dental care is, therefore, paid for “out of pocket.” 

In some states, Medicaid provides limited coverage for routine dental care for low income and disabled elderly persons.  But reimbursements are low and coverage is far from comprehensive.  Lack of access to basic preventive and restorative dental services results in patients’ seeking care in hospital emergency rooms after a dental problem that could have been more easily and inexpensively treated worsens. 

In 1999 and 2000, an Institute of Medicine report suggested that Congress update Medicare regulations to allow the program to cover effective dental services needed in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or pharmacological treatment for life-threatening medical conditions.  Despite several proposals to Congress to extend greater coverage of dental services, Medicare essentially provides no routine dental coverage. 

Web Resources for Finding Dental Care

• Dental schools often have clinics that provide care at reduced cost while giving students experience treating patients. See “Finding Dental Care” at: www.nidcr.nih.gov/health

• The Bureau of Primary Health Care has a listing of federally funded community health centers that provide dental care. See www.ask.hrsa.gov/pc

• The National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) sometimes seeks research volunteers.  Participants may be provided with limited free or low-cost treatment for the particular condition being studied.  See www.nidcr.nih.gov/clinicalTrials

For local, state and national dental organizations: www.ada.org/ada/organizations/index.asp

This is an excerpt only

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