Oral Health Topics
Nursing Home Care (Geriatrics)
ADA’s consumer information is now available on MouthHealthy.org—our new website developed just for you. Visit MouthHealthy.org to find answers to all your dental-related questions so we can help you be Mouth Healthy for life.
To find information about the topic listed on this page, please visit the MouthHealthy.org page about Aging and Dental Health.
According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, the population of Americans older than 65 years is expected to double to about 71 million by 2040. What’s more, the population of Americans older than 85 years is expected to increase to 9.6 million by 2030. A growing percentage of these adults are semi-dependent.
As people live longer and retain more natural teeth, the complexity of their treatment increases. Geriatric dentistry includes, but is not limited to, the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of caries and periodontal disease, as well as oral mucosal diseases, head and neck pain, salivary dysfunction and impaired chewing, tasting and swallowing.
The ADA’s OralLongevity initiative and online resources are designed to support the dental profession by assisting older adults and their caregivers in maintaining oral health for life.
Please use this link to find special resources for aging adults, or visit www.ada.org/OralLongevity.aspx.
There you will find a host of resources related to:
- Research & Clinical Publications Related to OralLongevity
- Support Tools
- Links to additional resources
Nursing home residents: Paying for dental care using Incurred Medical Expenses
- Webinar: Reimbursement for treating long-term care patients — Members of the ADA’s National Elder Care Advisory Committee (NECAC) hosted a webinar on Sept. 20, 2012 to educate dentists on using Incurred Medical Expense (IME) billing, which helps long-term care residents get dental treatment and allows dental practices to get reimbursed for services. IME is routinely used for eyeglasses and hearing aids, but many dentists are not aware that it is also available for dental treatment.
- Paying for Dental Care: A How-To Guide (full guide)
- Suggested Steps for Dental Professionals
- Suggested Steps for Residents and their Representatives
- Suggested Steps for State and County Medicaid Caseworkers
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