Publications

Evolving Delivery Models for Dental Care Services in Long-Term Care Settings: 4 State Case Studies

Author(s): 

Elizabeth Mertz, Cynthia Wides 

Date: 
February 5, 2016

As the Baby Boomer Generation ages into long-term care (LTC) facilities, the number of individuals requiring dental care will rise, but these systems are not set up to adequately meet their needs. The supply of dentists is projected to increase; however, enormous barriers to dental care continue to exist for the poor, elderly and institutionalized population.

This report examines the delivery of dental care in LTC facilities in four U.S. states. Although each state had a unique policy and regulatory environment, no standard of care exists for provision of care. Models of dental care are evolving, but states and the dental community will need to continue to act to address the gap of access to dental care in LTC settings.