Getting dental care to elders in nursing homes

Noon ET, May 15
Although more national research is needed to understand the full extent of the problem, studies show that seniors in nursing homes often go without dental care.

The lack of care can take a devastating toll on health and quality of life and impacts seniors who have their natural teeth as well as those who don’t. Our panel of experts will take a look at the need for oral health services in nursing homes and some steps that are being taken to get this care to patients.

The speakers 

• As president of Outreach Dentistry, Gregory J. Folse, D.D.S., maintains a mobile, geriatric dental practice in Lafayette, Louisiana, a comprehensive school-based dental practice throughout Louisiana, and lectures extensively. Nationally, he was instrumental in writing the oral health section of the Minimum Data Set found in every facility residents’ chart, training state nursing facility surveyors through CMS and trained the Gold Standard Nurses for facility oral health compliance.

• Judith Jones, D.D.S., is a spokesperson for the American Dental Association, a member of the national Elder Care Advisory committee and serves on the Journal of the American Dental Association editorial board and on the American Board of Dental Public Health. She is professor and assistant dean for faculty development and director of the Center for Clinical Research at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. She has organized and led conferences focused on disparities in access to and outcomes of care for elders. Her research interests include geriatric oral health and the relationships between systemic health, oral health and quality of life.

• Beth Truett is president and chief executive officer of Oral Health America. Last fall, Oral Health America, a national non-profit organization, released a national report card on the oral health of elders called State of Decay  that highlighted serious needs in many states. Truett will offer insights about the barriers many seniors face to getting dental care both at home and in institutions, as well as the health impacts that can result from a lack of dental care.

• Mary Otto, AHCJ’s core topic leader on oral health, will moderate the discussion and take questions from participants.

<!–

This will be an event exclusively for AHCJ members so you will need your username and password for the website. If you don’t have that information, please reset your password using the one-click login option or contact info@healthjournalism.org.

A link to the webcast will be posted on this page 15 minutes before the event begins.

–>

Gregory Folse

Judith Jones

Beth Truett

Mary Otto