State of Decay: OHA Reports on Oral Health of Older Americans

For older adults, maintaining good oral health is a daily challenge and one that may be out of their control because of barriers such as lack of Medicaid and insurance coverage, non-fluoridated water and inadequate public health policies.

Oral Health America published its third edition of A State of Decay, a state-by-state report of the oral health of the country’s 65+ population and the success or failure of states to address those needs. The report analyzes five variables impacting the oral and overall health of seniors:

1. Percentage of edentulous population


2. Percentage of communities that have fluoridated water


3. Medicaid dental benefits


4. The comprehensiveness of the State Oral Health Plan covering goals and objectives for the oral health of its citizens


5. A Basic Screening Survey, a surveillance of the oral health conditions of seniors in the community and long-term-care settings of older adults

Here...