Senior Smiles

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Baltimore County Department of Aging developed a partnership with Community College of Baltimore County to provide access to inexpensive dental care for older adults through a program called Senior Smiles. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that only 45% of seniors 75 years and older report having a dental visit in the last year, the goal of the partnership was to meet this need for older adults and to have viable dental care and education. Knowing older adults are uncomfortable driving in new areas, BCDA coordinated with CountyRide, a Para transit program within the County, to offer reduced transportation services to all participants from their local senior center or senior housing building. Throughout the year, the program and transportation were offered throughout each of the County’s 19 senior centers. Through the partnership with the Dental School of the Community College of Baltimore County, the Senior Smiles program provided eligible seniors living in Baltimore County with access to free oral health screenings for preventative care and education, including complete oral exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, e-rays, and oral health instruction.