Many older adults in the United States find it challenging to gain access to dental care. This is largely because traditional dental care in the U.S. generally takes place in a private dental office or in a safety net clinic, both of which require some amount of travel and planning in order to receive care dental curing light. Sometimes, scheduling appointments and planning for transportation must be done by a caregiver if the senior doesn’t feel fully comfortable with the complex process. These challenges highlight the need to make oral health care accessible to seniors where they live, worship, or receive social services. This practice of providing care outside of traditional settings is referred to as “place-based care.” Some of the benefits for place-based care is that it allows efficient use of resources, encourages community involvement, and meets the needs of seniors’ oral health needs, especially in rural settings where access to traditional private clinics is limited. A wide variety of place-based care models are present within the U.S. The structure of these models, and the care they provide, relies heavily on their state’s individual dental practice act, which defines requirements dentists must follow to be licensed in each state. If you, or a loved one, are considering place-based care, here are some key questions to ask: Who owns the place-based care program and how is it funded? What are my financial obligations? Are uninsured individuals offered the same services as insured individuals? Are your providers licensed in the state where the dental services are being offered? What treatments will be offered? When and where will they be provided? How long will treatments take? How is follow-up and urgent care handled? Who coordinates these dental supplies? Who can answer questions or concerns about treatment after it has been provided and how do I contact them? How can I get copies of my dental records to share with future dental providers? How will the information you get be shared with the residential facility? Can you have a letter of reference? dental handpiece