New Grant to Help Keep Elderly Safe through Teledentistry

Eastman Institute for Oral Health was awarded $100,000 from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to help improve oral health care for vulnerable elderly populations in the Greater Rochester community.

“Due to the pandemic, oral health care has been halted in most nursing homes due to heightened safety concerns,” said Holly Barone, RDH, EIOH chief operations officer. “But without timely intervention, the progression of oral disease can cause pain and infection and adversely impact overall quality of life.”

The effects of the pandemic are particularly acute for vulnerable older adults requiring transportation to dental facilities. “The situation presented an opportunity for us to re-think how oral health care can be delivered safely and more timely,” Ms. Barone added.

Thanks to the Foundation’s support, Eastman Institute for Oral Health experts will soon implement an innovative program they developed that will not only help 200 people locally, but will also lay the groundwork to improve care for this population throughout our region and can be modeled throughout the State.

Foundation funds will provide portable dental equipment, supplies, and teledentistry equipment for two nursing home sites and partial salary support for providers. Full story ♦

Holly Barone, EIOH Chief Operations Officer