Federal funds for oral health screenings for older Americans are available for the first time after President Barack Obama signed the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016.
The law funds 685 state and local agencies that provide services for older Americans, including meals, transportation, job training, and preventive services, according to the Center for Oral Health. Disease prevention and oral health screenings can now be added to the list of services.
Oral health screenings are an important part of more preventive and restorative care to improve and even save lives and also reduce healthcare costs, according to ADA President Carol Gomez Summerhays, DDS.
The number of Americans older than age 65 is expected to double to about 71 million by 2040, according to federal reports. As people live longer and retain more of their natural teeth, their oral care requires more complex treatment, the ADA noted.
