Developing an Interprofessional Oral Health Education System That Meets the Needs of Older Adults

ABSTRACT This article discusses how education can bridge the silos between dental and medical care to better serve older adults who suffer from complex dental and medical conditions. A strong interprofessional team-based, patient-centric care model is essential to reach older adults who attend primary care visits but do not have regular dental care or vice versa. Interprofessional didactic and clinical education opportunities are needed to train a broad mix of health professional students and practitioners to work together to integrate oral health care, particularly directed at the complex medical, social and fi nancial needs of older adults.