The OralLongevity initiative, designed to increase awareness about the need to enhance and preserve the oral health of older Americans, will make its debut in September.

A cooperative effort between GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare; the ADA through its Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations, the ADA Publishing Division and the Council on ADA Sessions; and the ADA Foundation; the initiative will feature educational information aimed at raising the awareness of oral health through a lifetime.

When ADA members open their September issue of
The Journal of the American Dental Association , they will find two special features—a 56-page supplement, "Oral Health and an Aging Population," and the new OralLongevity Brochure and DVD education program.

Oral health care professionals attending the ADA's Annual Session will also be able to participate in a complete educational track that covers the oral health care needs of older adults. Six lecture courses, a daylong panel discussion and a half-day case study session will offer helpful advice on a variety of issues related to the oral health of seniors.

Annual session goers will also be able to take home a copy of the limited edition OralLongevity Brochure and Oral Heath DVD. After annual session, the DVD will only be available via ADA.org.

"OralLongevity is just the beginning of a major ADA effort to help members serve the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population," said Dr. Kathleen Roth, ADA President. "The launch of this initiative in September will mark the first time that easily accessible educational resources and tools will be available to a national market. We're pleased to be a part of this effort to meet the needs of dentists, allied dental team members, seniors and their family members and caregivers."

The cooperative relationship began in 2004, when GSKCH funded six grants through the ADA Foundation to support state and community-based oral health awareness programs for seniors. Building on the success of the initial grant program, GSKCH entered into a three-year, $1 million partnership with the ADA and the ADAF to help address the oral health needs of the exploding demographic of aging Americans.

"The ADA Foundation has been an enthusiastic partner in the OralLongevity initiative since the beginning, when six grantees were funded to support community-based oral health awareness programs for seniors," said Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni, ADAF board president. "The Foundation is in a unique position to nimbly respond to the needs of the public and of the dental profession, and OralLongevity is a shining example of a responsive public-private partnership."

"The goal of OralLongevity is to create a dialogue between patients, caregivers and oral health professionals," said Dr. Ronald Rupp, senior manger of professional relations, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. "OralLongevity will bring patients into the dental office, where they can receive information and guidance from trusted professionals."

The OralLongevity brochure and DVD includes searchable chapters on a variety of oral health topics, such as aging dentition, daily mouth care, nutrition, dry mouth and more. Dental professionals will be able to use the DVD in their offices to educate patients and caregivers on topics targeted to individual patients' needs. ADA.org will also feature OralLongevity Web pages with the DVD that dental professionals and patients can use to access information.

"The OralLongevity initiative is a very ambitious program," said Dr. Susan Bordenave Bishop, member, ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. "We have launched an excellent oral health awareness program this year because of our excellent sponsorship from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and the strong backing of the ADA and ADA Foundation leadership and staff."

"Dental professionals know that the coming years are likely to bring major demographic changes to their practices and it is important to continually review and practice skills in caring for older patients," added Dr. Rupp. "We encourage dental professionals to review and share the information they receive through the OralLongevity initiative."