title: Smiles over time: an older adult oral health survey in Illinois.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the project was to identify the oral health status and needs of the older adult population ≥60 years old in Illinois for policy decisions and to help identify possible need for oral health interventions. No baseline data has previously been collected on this population in Illinois.
  
  
  METHODS
  A public/private collaboration was formed, which included the Illinois Department of Public Health, the IFLOSS Coalition and dental and dental hygiene schools in Illinois. The screening tool was developed based on methods outlined by Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors for Basic Screening Surveys. Questionnaires and in-mouth screenings were conducted at selected sites statewide. Data was collected by dental and dental hygiene students and faculty at onsite clinics and community outreach sites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 437 seniors were screened statewide. Of this population, 81% had no dental insurance, 13% were edentulous and 58% claimed to have had a dental visit in the last year.A total of 26% rated their oral health as fair or poor, while 29% had untreated caries. Suspicious oral lesions were present in 14% (n=308 for the oral lesions indicator), 19% needed immediate dental care and 41% required referral.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that surveillance can be accomplished by the collaboration among entities with focus on a specific population. Additional surveillance efforts are warranted among older adults in Illinois in an effort to plan and to implement appropriate interventions for addressing the oral health needs of this population.
authors.forename: Sherri M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lukes
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Kathleen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Thacker
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wadhawan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012904:Smiling; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Basic Screening Survey; older adults; oral health