Senior Oral Health Partnership Program

Geographic Scope: 15-state and Washington, D.C. enterprise; recent expansion to Mississippi Delta Region

Focus Areas:

• Address the oral health crisis among older adults in the U.S.
• Address systemic causes of poor oral health among seniors
• Target seniors living in poverty, people of color, and those with mobility issues

Background:

• Launched in 2022 as a multi-year program
• Identifies and addresses systemic causes of poor oral health among older adults
• Focus driven by research showing 25% of seniors living in poverty have lost all their natural teeth
• Based on 2021 National Institutes of Health Oral Health in America report identifying senior oral health as a public health crisis
• Most recent expansion announced May 21, 2025: additional $5 million committed over five years to Mississippi Delta region partnerships

What Foundation Does:

• Partners with community-based organizations and nonprofits
• Funds partnerships to increase access to oral health care for seniors
• Supports organizations serving vital needs in communities

Application Process

Note: Grant support is by invitation only.

How to Apply:

• Contact the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation at foundation@delta.org
• Demonstrate alignment with the foundation's mission to address oral health crises among older adults
• Show capacity to serve seniors, especially those in poverty, people of color, and those with mobility challenges