Texas A&M University School of Dentistry Tapped by City of Dallas to Provide Care to Seniors

Oral health care is key to overall wellness, but it’s sometimes neglected by people age 65 and older, partly because private dental insurance is often lost upon retirement and Medicare does not cover regular dental care.

Coverage through Medicare Advantage varies from plan to plan, and this leaves many seniors, especially those of low to moderate income, with little to no dental coverage at a time in their lives when the need for oral health care is more important than ever. Since 2016, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry has partnered with the City of Dallas through its Senior Dental Care Services to provide oral health care for its older citizens, and the program was renewed this week.

The Dallas City Council at its March 8 meeting approved reimbursing the Texas A&M School of Dentistry up to $750,000 over three years—the largest award to date—allowing the school to continue providing dental care to qualifying senior residents of Dallas age 60 and older. The city will reimburse the school $250,000 the first year and consider two one-year renewal options totaling $500,000 in the years that follow. 

“We are excited to continue this relationship with the City of Dallas and for the opportunity to expand services provided to eligible seniors,” said Tracy King, Director of Clinical Operations Community Clinics at Texas A&M School of Dentistry. “In addition to basic preventive and urgent dental care, we are providing dentures, root canal treatment, crowns, oral cancer biopsies and tobacco cessation services to address comprehensive dental needs.”

Care is provided free of charge at the dental school’s community clinics: Dr. M.C. Cooper Dental Clinic, at 4570 Scyene Road and North Dallas Shared Ministries, at 2875 Merrell Road, both in Dallas. More than 2,000 patient visits are anticipated in 2023.

Texas A&M University School of Dentistry (formerly Baylor College of Dentistry) in Dallas is a part of Texas A&M University and Texas A&M Health Science Center. Founded in 1905, the School of Dentistry is a nationally recognized center for oral health sciences education, research, specialized patient care and continuing dental education. Learn more at dentistryinsider.tamhsc.edu or follow @TAMUdental on social media.

Courtesy of Texas A&M University School of Dentistry

Published on April 12, 2023