OralLongevity initiative wins Shils Award

Philadelphia鈥擳he OralLongevity initiative, a joint effort of the ADA, the ADA Foundation and GSK Consumer Healthcare, received the 2009 Shils Award “for its commitment and dedication to improving and maintaining good oral health for older adults throughout their lives.”

Dr. Anthony R. Volpe, vice president, Global Oral Care, Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Shils awards committee co-chair, presented the award at the Union League in Philadelphia June 2 to representatives from GlaxoSmithKline and the ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations.

“The program has proven to be very successful,” said Dr. Lewis N. Lampiris, CAPIR director. “Requests for the materials have been received from dental professionals around the globe. They are being used to train staff in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and community programs are utilizing the materials at health fairs and other local events focused on heath promotion and wellness. An additional distribution is planned to all dental schools in the country later this summer. The council is honored that that the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Education Fund has recognized this outstanding collaboration between industry and the profession and we also thank GlaxoSmithKline for its continued support of OralLongevity.”

“Each year the Shils Fund recognizes innovative, creative and productive programs that deal with oral health issues facing the dental professional, the dental industry and the oral health of the public,” said Steve Kess, chairman of the program advisory board for the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Education Fund. “In 2009, we were very pleased to recognize the OralLongevity program created by the ADA and GlaxoSmithKline. This public-private collaboration should serve as a model of cooperation in addressing the oral health of one of our country’s most vulnerable populations. Congratulations to both organizations. We are very proud of your achievements and look forward to more success in the future.”

The cornerstone of the OralLongevity outreach effort is a brochure and educational DVD that is formatted in searchable chapters on a variety of oral health topics. Dental professionals can use the DVD in their offices to educate patients and caregivers. Consumers can also access the information based on their individual needs, with topics that include dry mouth; cavities after 60; oral cancer; dentures and implants; daily mouth care; and the effect of diabetes, arthritis and medications on oral health.

Additional OralLongevity information for patients, such as helpful tips, questions and answers, fact sheets and more can be found on the Consumer Resources Section the Web site (www.ada.org/ada/orallongevity/consumer.asp).

OralLongevity resources and materials to assist dental professionals, including literature reviews, clinical publications, case studies and assistance on reaching out to older adults who may be living independently, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes, can be found online at www.ada.org/ada/orallongevity/dental.asp.