The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59982

Jackie Smorang, Dip DH, MSEd and E.Luke Shwart, DMD, MBA. Healthy Communities/ Community Oral Health Services, Calgary Health Region, P.O. Box 4016, Station C, Calgary, AB T2T 5T1, Canada

Baby boomers in the US and Canada are living longer and healthier lives. They have access to good oral care services and will expect the same level of oral care as they age. However in their senior years, baby boomers may encounter unexpected difficulties in maintaining their natural teeth. Private dental practitioners have largely overlooked the delivery of care to frail, functionally dependent and institutionalized older adults. Despite the evidence linking oral health to general health, maintaining oral health for aging people has not evolved as a primary issue in public health. A best practices review found that no evidence-based seniors oral health model exists in the US or Canada, and that outcome measurements to determine effective oral health programs and services require additional testing. This presentation focuses on three subsets of the seniors' population (in poverty; homebound; in care centres) and outlines an action plan to increase their access to dental services. Based on a literature review, and interviews with seniors and key informants, the plan seeks to ensure that seniors in this urban centre will be able to maintain their oral health now and in the future. The recommendations are systematic, comprehensive and multidisciplinary.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• identify the common oral health problems in the aging population
• recognize how seniors' oral health impacts general health, behaviour and lifestyle
• describe how demographic trends in US and Canada, and baby boomer expectations, point to an emerging problem in seniors' oral health
• discuss lack of evidence-based best practice models for seniors' oral health
• describe regulatory issues related to seniors' oral health in care centres
• outline recommendations of key informants and seniors for addressing oral health care needs and service gaps
• describe an action plan for a comprehensive and measurable approach to seniors' oral health

Keywords: Aging, Oral Health Needs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.ppt format, 639.0 kb)