Senior citizens to get dental kits
Lynchburg News and Advance
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Like the pearly whites of the good old days, regular dental care may be only a memory for some senior citizens living on limited incomes.

It’s time to revisit that assumption. In Lynchburg, the Alliance of the American Dental Association is teaming up with Meals on Wheels, and the Free Clinic of Central Virginia to give “Senior Smiles” kits to about 100 Meals on Wheels clients.

The Aug. 15 distribution in Lynchburg is part of a national oral health awareness campaign under way that will ultimately provide 10,000 kits nationwide, underwritten by GlaxoSmithKline and Sullivan-Schien Dental.

The kits - which contain everything from toothpaste and dental floss to mouthwash and denture adhesive - include an information booklet that carries the message that dental care for older people is an important part of health care.

“Senior citizens, when they reach Medicare age, find out they are having difficulty accessing care - dental disease is a huge problem for them,” said Dr. Gus Petticolas, a Lynchburg dentist and longtime Free Clinic volunteer.

Many do not seek dental care unless they are in pain or severe discomfort with a tooth gone bad.

The goal of Senior Smiles is “to provide some hope to those seniors” - the dental program of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia.

Senior Smiles in Lynchburg was launched by Dottie Hendrickson, a member of the Alliance of the American Dental Association (an organization of dental spouses). The national organization has also been involved in “Give Kids a Smile.”

Since the Lynchburg area has no Alliance chapter, Hendrickson put the plan into motion. She contacted Meals on Wheels and The Free Clinic. Both rely on volunteers.

Through a network of volunteer drivers, Meals on Wheels delivers midday meals to homebound adults. Through its roster of area physicians and health providers, the Free Clinic, at 1016 Main St., provides free medical care to people who meet clinic criteria.

Meals on Wheels has about 250 clients, said executive director Lisa Schafer, so the 100 kits will have to go first to those who meet Free Clinic income criteria. Some of the clients are on special diets because they have no teeth, or few, or ill-fitting dentures that make chewing difficult.

The Senior Smiles kits contain information about the Free Clinic.

“My hope is,” said Schafer, “once they know about the Free Clinic … they won’t wait until they’re in pain.”

“What they really need is to go before it gets to that point,” she said. “I’m hoping by having the flyers in the packet, they’ll schedule an appointment.”

Bob Barlow, Free Clinic executive director, said the clinic’s expansion of its dental facilities, now under way, should be complete by October.

Currently, although booked about two months ahead, they “triage” patients and serve those in most need - such as seniors in pain.

By generating awareness through Senior Smiles, “We want to encourage seniors to be proactive in preventive care and in understanding there is a place to go and get that care,” said Petticolas.

Having groups reach out to Meals on Wheels clients with a Senior Smiles kit is a little out of the ordinary.

“It is unusual - we welcome it,” said Schafer. Usually the outreach comes from children’s groups, youth groups and Scout Troops who often make tray favors for the seniors.

“That makes them smile,” she said. “With this, they’ll at least have a pretty smile.”

Keeping a healthy smile:
Dental data for seniors from the Senior Smiles booklet in the kit:

  • Old fillings decay around the edges and bacteria can accumulate in the spaces between the filling and tooth, which leads to decay.
  • Dentures need to be cleaned daily. Years may cause the fit to change. See a dentist at least once a year to check for oral cancer even if you have no teeth.
  • Gum disease symptoms include red, swollen gums that bleed easily.
  • Diabetes is a risk factor for gum disease.

For more information about the agencies involved call:

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