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About the Senior Oral Health Project |
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 Established in 2009, the Senior Oral Health Project is a free comprehensive dental program to promote and improve the oral health and general health and well-being of Boston’s low-income seniors residing at Boston Housing Authority (BHA) public housing. The Senior Oral Health Project is funded by the Sunshine Lady Foundation, and is a collaborative effort between Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Fenway Community Health Center, Boston Housing Authority, and the Boston Public Health Commission.
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Activities of the Senior Oral Health Project include:
§ Dental screening, oral hygiene education, and free toothbrushes/paste/
floss/denture kits at a predetermined Boston Housing Authority (BHA) public
housing site once a month.
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Dental screening is performed by Fenway Community Health Center dentist.
§ Appointments made for free dental services at Fenway Community Health
Center for low-income seniors (60 years or older) who live in BHA Housing.
§ Dental appointments for participants in the Senior Oral Health Project are
given a higher priority in scheduling.
§ Transportation assistance to and from Fenway Community Health Center
(taxi vouchers, senior shuttle).
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Who is Eligible? |
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§ All low income residents of Boston age 60 years and older currently living in
a Boston Housing Authority (BHA) public housing development
§ Any person who meets these two requirements is welcome and invited to
attend any of the upcoming screenings
§ You do not have to be a resident of the particular BHA Housing in which the
screening is taking place
Please contact your BHA Public Housing Site Coordinator for transportation assistance to the screening site if needed.
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Dental Services Provided |
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The Senior Oral Health Project offers free comprehensive oral health services to elders regardless of insurance status or their ability to pay. Some of the services provided include:
Prevention services:
§ Examinations and x-rays 
§ Cleaning of teeth and dentures
§ Fluoride treatments
Treatment services:
§ Fillings, examinations, and x-rays
§ Repair of dentures
§ Making of new dentures if needed
All dental services are provided at:
Fenway Community Health Center Department of Dentistry
1340 Boylston Street, 6th floor,
Boston, MA 02215
Tel: 617- 927-6127
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Further Resources |
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Still have questions about the Senior Oral Health Program? Please refer to the Q&A form for helpful information:
Q&A:
Q&A-English
Q&A-Spanish
Q&A-Chinese
Q&A-Haitian Creole
Q&A-Vietnamese
Q&A-Polish
Directions/Maps to the Dental Clinic at Fenway Community Health Center:
Fenway Map-English
Fenway Map-Spanish
Fenway Map-Chinese
Fenway Map-Haitian Creole
Fenway Map-Vietnamese
Fenway Map-Polish
Health and Public Housing Data, Oral Health, Boston, 2001-2005:
A report on the health of public housing residents across a range of health measures that directly compares their disease burden and behavioral health experiences with those of Boston residents who do not reside in public housing. The oral health indicators measured were:
1) Inadequate dental care due to financial barrier
2) Permanent teeth removed due to decay/disease (six or more)
3) No dental insurance
Read the full report.
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About the Founder |
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The Senior Oral Health Project is made possible by the generous contribution of the Sunshine Lady Foundation. The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a private family foundation that was established by Doris Buffett of Omaha, Nebraska. The Foundation’s mission is to provide opportunities for the advancement of education, well-being, and new life choices for disadvantaged people.
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