Lifelong Smiles Coalition

About

Lifelong Smiles Coalition, a public-private partnership, was formed to ensure optimal access to oral health care for older Iowans. The group currently consists over 20 partners that include state agencies, advocacy organizations, trade associations, health professionals, academic institutions, and funders. In addition to strategic planning to create sustainable ways to help this population, Coalition members are working to improve education and training, care coordination, and policies. Since 2015, the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has provided over $1,000,000 for three initiatives to assist in the communities of this work. Grants include:

The Iowa Department of Public Health's I-Smile^TM Silver project is a community-based system of care to improve the oral health of Iowans age 60 and older. The pilot project will work to prevent dental disease, increase access to oral health care, and maintain overall health for homebound and nursing home residents in Calhoun, Des Moines, Hamilton, Humboldt, Lee, Pocahontas, Scott, Van Buren, Webster, and Wright Counties.
The Iowa CareGivers will provide oral health education for direct care workers, helping them better address the oral health care needs of homebound and nursing home residents.
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics has established an Office of Education and Training to coordinate, develop, and evaluate continuing dental education programs for dentists, hygienists, and assistants, specifically targeted at geriatric oral health care.

For more information about the Lifelong Smiles Coalition and its work, contact Elizabeth Faber, Coalition consultant, at lifelongsmilescoalition@gmail.com.


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	"As we age, issues that affect our mouth can increase or worsen. So, it's especially important to be aware of conditions associated with aging that can impact oral health."	About Lifelong Smiles Coalition, a public-private partnership, was formed to ensure optimal access to oral health care for older Iowans. The group currently consists over 20 partners that include state agencies, advocacy organizations, trade associations, health professionals, academic institutions, and funders. In addition to strategic planning to create sustainable ways to help this population, Coalition members are working to improve education and training, care coordination, and policies. Since 2015, the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has provided over $1,000,000 for three initiatives to assist in the communities of this work. Grants include: The Iowa Department of Public Health's I-Smile^TM Silver project is a community-based system of care to improve the oral health of Iowans age 60 and older. The pilot project will work to prevent dental disease, increase access to oral health care, and maintain overall health for homebound and nursing home residents in Calhoun, Des Moines, Hamilton, Humboldt, Lee, Pocahontas, Scott, Van Buren, Webster, and Wright Counties. The Iowa CareGivers will provide oral health education for direct care workers, helping them better address the oral health care needs of homebound and nursing home residents. The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics has established an Office of Education and Training to coordinate, develop, and evaluate continuing dental education programs for dentists, hygienists, and assistants, specifically targeted at geriatric oral health care. For more information about the Lifelong Smiles Coalition and its work, contact Elizabeth Faber, Coalition consultant, at lifelongsmilescoalition@gmail.com.