FYI: Delta Dental's blog for the dental community

Updated April 23, 2026

Seniors are facing a growing oral health crisis in the U.S. Adults over 65 are projected to outnumber children within the next decade, yet too often oral health care remains out of reach. With Medicare excluding dental coverage and many low-income adults lacking Medicaid dental benefits, seniors face serious barriers to care.
 

The stakes

• Poor oral health is linked to the risk of heart disease, cognitive decline, diabetes complications and more.
• Dental care is often one of the largest out-of-pocket expenses for older adults on fixed incomes.
• In Washington D.C., 20% of seniors report transportation and food insecurity as obstacles to dental care.

Making change happen

In this Dentistry Today article, Dr. Clarke M. Allen, DDS, shares practical, patient-centered ideas for leading meaningful change in dental care, including:
 

• Tailoring appointments for seniors by allowing more time and creating a calm, comfortable environment that supports their needs
• Incorporating chronic health conditions into care plans, with an emphasis on collaborating closely with medical providers for more coordinated treatment
• Addressing transportation and financial barriers to make care more accessible and ensure more patients can get the treatment they need

Community-driven change

The Senior Oral Health Partnership Program, launched in 2022 by the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, with Howard University College of Dentistry and Mary’s Center as inaugural partners, is addressing these barriers to care:
 

• Serving 5,000+ seniors in D.C. with 82% establishing a dental home (two visits in 12 months)
• Offering comprehensive dental services regardless of ability to pay including preventive, restorative and surgical care
• Leveraging technology like 3D-printed dentures to reduce the number of in-person visits for patients with mobility challenges
• Training dental students in Federally Qualified Health Centers to care for older adults, addressing future workforce shortages in underserved areas

The impact

• Programs like the Senior Oral Health Partnership improve oral and overall health while lowering long-term health care costs.
• The Senior Oral Health Partnership Program has expanded to Santa Cruz, San Diego and the Mississippi Delta, serving over 15,000 seniors nationwide.

Read this Dr. Bicuspid article to break down why this problem is accelerating and learn about practical solutions that could help close the gap.