When I retired seven years ago, the biggest thing that concerned me was no longer having dental insurance. Not that it paid such a large amount of the dental bill, but it all helps and so I worried and fretted about what I’d do.

I started calling around about insurance plans and was very soon disgusted that so little was available, especially to senior citizens who are faced with escalating medical costs, as it is.

However, I discovered that Delta Dental, which had been the company which my employer, Suburban News, had a contract with, would also write individual policies for single people or families, any age, apparently. The rates were just about the same as the “group” rate at the company.

Dental insurance pays about half – sometimes a little more – of the dental bill. In my case, the cost is around $40 a month, but well worth it given the increased dental needs, as I get older.

Here is some news from Delta Dental. You might find it of interest, as I did.

“With age comes wisdom and, hopefully, good oral health. Unfortunately, there are serious hurdles to overcome in protecting the oral health of America’s aging population. While research indicates that a greater number of older adults have all or most of their natural teeth than in earlier decades, interrelated health issues, economic changes and barriers to dental care now present our society with important challenges to the oral health of seniors.

While we know more about how to protect and improve our oral health than ever before, there are still challenges to it across our society, including for mature adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) recently reported a nearly 29 percent reduction in the number of adults who had lost all of their teeth.

Most people connect regular check-ups and preventive maintenance with preventing the need for more extensive and expensive treatments later. The word is out that in many cases oral health problems typically associated with getting older – chronic pain, disability, disfigurement and inadequate nutrition – can be prevented or overcome.

Enter economic issues to complicate the oral health of our seniors. Many people retire with no dental benefits.

To cut costs, companies are cutting or eliminating benefits to retirees. Access to primary dental services is becoming an increasing challenge to the oral health of senior citizens.

Some seniors have found a solution through dental coverage recently introduced by AARP, a nonprofit organization for people age 50 and over with more than 35 million members. Provided by the Delta Dental Insurance Company, the AARP Dental Insurance Plan offers seniors dental insurance with reduced out-of-pocket costs, the freedom to choose their dentists and claims convenience, among other benefits.

Participating AARP members in many parts of the country can receive immediate coverage for most preventive, diagnostic and basic restorative services, root canal treatments and oral surgeries. After the first year, coverage expands to include major restorations, gum treatments and dentures.

But challenges to improving the oral health of seniors remain. In addition to economically disadvantaged seniors, seniors from minority groups, and people residing in rural communities and nursing homes remain at risk from poor oral health and untreated dental problems.

There is no satisfactory solution for all; dental care and health continues to elude most elderly, low-income Mainers. This is a problem, which should be addressed by our representatives. Start with AARP and see if their new plan will help you – if you can afford the premium payments.