Barriers and Opportunities to Support the Oral Health of Older Adults: A Rapid Review of Health Policy and Systems

Tooth decay and gum disease are reversible, preventable, and impact approximately 68% of older adults nationwide. While the Affordable Care Act added provisions to health prevention services, it did not cover oral health prevention for adults and older adults. A rapid review process was utilized to identify literature documenting system and policy level barriers and opportunities to address oral health equity issues for older adults in the United States. Twenty-five articles met inclusion criteria for analysis. Findings revealed four barrier and three opportunity themes. Recommendations of analysis include expansion of oral health coverage under Medicare and Medicaid along with community-based and co-located medical and dental services. This will address access and utilization barriers and provide education for older adults, health providers, and the general population. Increasing oral health literacy and population awareness, and prioritizing oral health can be met by capitalizing on opportunities found in this rapid review.