From: Michael Lamothe, Media Specialist
Central Alabama Aging Consortium
Millbrook Senior Center kicked off a partnership between the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry and Central Alabama Aging Consortium (CAAC) to provide dental screenings to seniors living in Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery Counties. Access to dental care remains a significant concern for older adults, particularly because Medicare does not typically cover routine dental services. As a result, many seniors face barriers to maintaining their oral health.
To help address this need, advanced dental students from UAB School of Dentistry recently conducted oral health screenings at the Millbrook Senior Center. The screenings were designed to provide a quick assessment and connect interested seniors with potential resources. “CAAC was proud to partner with UAB to bring this free service to the seniors in the Millbrook area. Dental care is just as essential as overall health in helping prevent additional health-related complications, said CAAC Executive Director Yolanda Evans.
During the process, participants were asked a series of general questions, such as when they last visited a dentist, whether they had experienced recent tooth pain requiring emergency or urgent care, and if they have issues like dry mouth or difficulty chewing. No personal identifying information was collected. Students then performed a brief visual check of the mouth using a flashlight—without dental instruments—making this a simple screening rather than a comprehensive dental exam.
Seniors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of opportunities like this, as early awareness can help prevent more serious oral health issues. Each participant who completed a screening also received a complimentary bag of oral health supplies tailored to their needs. Individuals with natural teeth received appropriate dental care items, while those with dentures were provided with products designed specifically for denture care.
Initiatives like this play an important role in promoting oral health and improving quality of life for older adults in the community. This was the opening phase of the dental screening program which is a partnership between UAB and CAAC.
CAAC manages 19 senior centers in the tri-county area. Millbrook was chosen to be the pilot visit given geographical proximity to Birmingham and the fact that Millbrook Senior Center is a highly active center with strong participation and engagement from local seniors.
The partnership hopes to bring the dental screening program to a senior center in Montgomery this fall.
