New Report Highlights Oral Health Needs of California's Older Adults

The Center for Oral Health's updated study identifies opportunities to strengthen prevention, access to care, and integration with broader health and aging services.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:36pm

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The Center for Oral Health has released 'Healthy Smiles Never Gets Old 2.0', a report examining the oral health needs of California's growing older adult population and outlining strategies to improve prevention, strengthen the oral health workforce, and expand access to care in community settings.

Why it matters

As California's population ages, the report underscores the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure older adults can maintain good oral health and overall well-being, as oral health is closely linked with chronic disease, nutrition, and quality of life. Many older adults face significant barriers to care, including inadequate coverage, limited mobility, workforce shortages, and insufficient integration between dental and medical systems.

The details

The report highlights key opportunities to improve oral health outcomes for older adults, including expanding preventive and routine dental care access in community and residential settings, strengthening partnerships between dental providers and aging services organizations, increasing awareness of the connection between oral health and overall health, supporting innovative service delivery models, and informing public health planning and policy solutions.

  • The Center for Oral Health released the 'Healthy Smiles Never Gets Old 2.0' report on March 31, 2026.

The players

Center for Oral Health

A 40-year nonprofit organization that released the 'Healthy Smiles Never Gets Old 2.0' report to examine the oral health needs of California's older adults and identify opportunities to strengthen prevention, access to care, and integration with broader health and aging services.

Jennifer Holtzman, DDS, MPH

Board Chair of the Center for Oral Health.

Fadra Whyte, DMD, MPH

Chief Dental Officer of the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency.

Brendan John

Interim CEO of the Center for Oral Health.

Caitlin Walker

Manager of the Foundation & CSR at Delta Dental of California & Affiliates.

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What they’re saying

“Oral health is closely linked with chronic disease, nutrition, and quality of life. Yet many older adults face significant barriers to care, including inadequate oral health coverage, limited mobility, workforce shortages, and insufficient integration between dental and medical systems. The report outlines strategies to improve prevention, strengthen the oral health workforce, and expand access to care in community settings.”

— Jennifer Holtzman, Board Chair, Center for Oral Health

“By 2029, it is estimated that adults aged 60 years and older will make up 24.7 percent of San Diego County's population. San Diego County Public Health Services applauds the Center for Oral Health for the release of Healthy Smiles Never Gets Old 2.0, a comprehensive and timely report that highlights the critical oral health needs of older adults across California—not only from a clinical health status perspective but also from a quality-of-life standpoint.”

— Fadra Whyte, Chief Dental Officer, County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency

“The Center for Oral Health brings a unique combination of expertise in conducting needs assessments and piloting new models of care. This report will serve as a foundation for building stronger partnerships and driving meaningful improvements in how oral health services are delivered to older adult populations.”

— Brendan John, Interim CEO, Center for Oral Health

“The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is committed to expanding access to oral health care for older adults. Understanding the realities they face—especially those with the fewest resources and greatest barriers—is essential to that work. We are honored to have partnered with the Center for Oral Health to produce Healthy Smiles Never Gets Old 2.0, which captures the true needs and challenges of this growing population.”

— Caitlin Walker, Manager, Foundation & CSR, Delta Dental of California & Affiliates

What’s next

The Center for Oral Health will continue to collaborate with counties, community-based organizations, and health systems to advance solutions that improve oral health outcomes for older adults throughout California.

The takeaway

This report highlights the critical need to address persistent oral health disparities among California's growing older adult population through coordinated efforts to improve prevention, strengthen the oral health workforce, and expand access to care in community settings. Addressing these issues is essential for ensuring older adults can maintain good oral health and overall well-being.