Oral Healthcare For Older Adults
Older adults often face barriers to accessing adequate dental care. ForsythCares provides restorative dental care to older adults where gaps in coverage exist. These services are provided at no cost to the patient, their family, or a community site.
Why is oral health important for older adults?
A report by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that almost 40 percent of seniors did not visit a dentist in 2014. While oral health is essential to overall health at every age, it is particularly important for seniors, who are more likely to suffer from gum disease and other related oral health conditions. Over 40% of Massachusetts adults over 65 have lost six or more teeth due to tooth decay and/or gum disease. Low-income and African American adults are nearly twice as likely as more affluent and white patients to experience gum disease and related systemic conditions, according to the Pew report.
Program highlights
Now in its second year, the ForsythCares program is led by Dr. Alpdogan Kantarci, Senior Member of Staff at Forsyth and Director of the Forsyth Faculty Associates dental practice. A major thrust of Dr. Kantarci’s current research is focused on the link between gum disease and other conditions affecting older adults, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
