Help for Low Income California Seniors Who Need Dentures

After Denti-Cal, the Medi-Cal dental provider for low-income patients in California, cut certain services to beneficiaries, finding sources of dental care to include dentures has been challenging. To understand how to find help for low-income California seniors who need dentures involves mapping out what federal, state and community resources are available and developing a strategy for contacting those resources and finding local help.

Federal Resources Can Help

• The Health Resources and Services Administration is the federal agency responsible for managing a nationwide system of community health clinics. Most of these clinics also provide dental services in addition to medical services. HRSA's website includes a tool that will help you find a local community health clinic, and you can work through your local clinic to find a provider who will help low-income seniors get dentures.

State Resources Are Available, Too

• The importance of oral health and the anxiety caused by the state budget crisis and cuts in services has caused a number of state-based organizations to develop programs to help low-income patients maintain their oral health. Some programs focus especially on seniors and children. Organizations such as the California Dental Association (CDA) and the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) have developed programs to help. Contact the CDA to find a local dentist who offers affordable care to low-income patients; you can also contact the CDA about community dental clinics. The California Primary Care Association (CPCA) runs community clinics throughout California, and it also partners with the CDA in some communities to offer low-cost dental services to low-income patients.

Consider Local Community Resources

• Organizations at the grassroots or community level can also help in finding affordable dentures for low-income seniors. The Dental Health Foundation, a group based in Oakland, California, operates community dental clinics in select communities in California; check with the Foundation for a list of communities that it serves. Other groups, such as senior centers, churches, community centers, and mobile health clinics are also good places to check for services. Most of these groups gather information about affordable health care in the community and can help you find a provider that can offer low-cost dentures.