Dental Care Often Falling By The Wayside For Seniors
“Many of them are getting used to living in pain,” says Dr. Karen Becerra. “They have active infections that have been going on for five, 10, 15 years.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Keeping Up With Dental Care Challenging For Many Seniors
Many seniors wish they had access to better dental care. But often, after retirement, they lose dental insurance and can’t afford new coverage. Medicare, for instance, doesn’t cover most dental work. (However, dental insurance is available for low-income seniors through Denti-Cal under the Medi-Cal program). In 2012, a survey prepared for San Diego County Aging & Independence Services indicated that being able to afford dental care was the No. 1 health issue for seniors, even more than general medical care (38 percent to 30 percent). (Williams, 3/20)