His smile fills the brightest scenes in the film of her life’s memories. When Beth Andersen’s wobbling bicycle steadied, and she rode independently down the driveway, it was there. When she told him about her first day of kindergarten, it was there. It’s in the photos of her graduation from high school and college, at her wedding, and after the birth of her children. And today, when many around him struggle to break through the fog of memory, it’s there when she visits him in the assisted living facility where four walls and common areas can’t contain it.
Andersen treasures her father’s smile, knowing the lifetime of careful dental work behind it. Yet, she’s acutely aware that such care remains out of reach for many older adults. Determined to ensure that no one over 65 loses their smile to financial constraints or lack of access, Andersen works passionately to spread the word about Smile On 65+. The Tennessee Department of Health funds the program through a grant as part of Tennessee’s Healthy Smiles Initiative.
The Healthy Smiles Initiative, launched in 2021 under Governor Bill Lee, is a five-year plan to improve oral health in Tennessee. This collaborative effort involves stakeholders like TennCare, dental schools, and safety net clinics, focusing on increasing access to dental care in rural and underserved areas. Key goals include recruiting and training dental professionals for high-need communities and expanding safety net services, all supported by a significant state investment of $94 million to ensure long-term improvements in dental care accessibility and quality.
Part of the Smile On 65+ mission is raising awareness about the affordability and accessibility of quality dental care. The purpose is twofold — it will inform older adults of the opportunity for affordable oral health and dispel the misconception of the need for it as we age.
Andersen knows how older people benefit from an awareness of the program’s services.
“Long term, more older adults are able to keep their teeth, avoid dentures, and have a healthy vibrant smile which positively impacts their overall health. Short term, we want to get people out of pain and make sure they have the best available dental care so that they can eat and smile,” she explained.
Andersen’s team spreads the word about Smile On 65+ in places where older adults come together for meals and other social activities. Dental Bingo and Dental Trivia are fun, interactive ways to raise awareness for the program.
Andersen shared, “We network with other agencies that serve older and lower-resourced adults. You will often find one of our community dental health coordinators at local health fairs and community events.”
While the services focus on older adults, they also zero in on a particular demographic that often lacks access to dental health care.
“Under this initiative were recommendations to improve access to dental care in Tennessee, paying particular attention to the needs of rural and underserved populations, one of those populations being the senior population in the state. Smile On 65+ helps remove barriers to affordable dental care for lower-income, dentally uninsured adults who are 65 years of age or older,” Andersen said. “While older adults may have access to health care, access to dental care can sometimes fall by the wayside. This may be due to costs, not having a dentist in their area, or the inability to travel to the appointments. Smile On 65+ attempts to eliminate these barriers to improve the overall health and well-being of our aging population.”
Andersen continued to explain the impact of the program.
“Older adults are sometimes overlooked or discounted, but as people are living longer, it’s important to recognize the critical link between dental health and overall health. There’s a misconception that dental care becomes less important with age, but broken, painful, or missing teeth can significantly affect the quality of life, impacting confidence in one’s smile and the ability to enjoy healthy foods.”
To qualify for the program, you must be a Tennessee resident at least 65 years old, be 200% at or below the poverty level, and have no comprehensive dental insurance. According to Andersen, the plan covers many dental procedures, including emergency care, exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and removable dentures and partials.
The program’s community dental health coordinators, experts in dental health and outreach, offer personalized guidance and support. They help individuals find dental homes and may assist with transportation based on individual needs. Smile On 65+ contracts with partner clinics to provide care for its members, reimbursing these clinics for services rendered. The network is continuously expanding, especially in underserved areas, and many of the partner clinics also serve as safety net providers, offering sliding-scale fees for the uninsured.
Smile On 65+ works to improve physical and dental health. By improving both long-term, older adults benefit socially and emotionally from their healthy smiles. Andersen said that several studies show that dental health greatly influences overall health and quality of life by simply impacting a person’s general health and psychological state.
Thanks to Smile On 65+, more seniors can confidently share their smiles during life’s big moments and everyday interactions. These revitalized smiles create cherished memories and underscore the vital role of dental health in overall well-being, influencing both confidence and quality of life. Like the individuals behind them, these smiles are treasures. GN
