National Survey of Adult Oral Health highlights need for national action

An extensive survey by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that often disadvantaged people were three times more likely to have dental problems.

The report comments that the “pervasive nature of disadvantage is such that it calls for a range of interventions including efforts to tackle the root causes of disadvantage itself”.

The release of the survey – on Saturday at the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) conference in Sydney – was timely, as representatives of a National Oral Health Alliance, which includes the Australian Council of Social Services and the ADA, will meet with the Federal Health Minister, Mr Abbott and other Parliamentarians, in Canberra tomorrow to discuss ways for disadvantaged people to see a dentist at least every two years.

The survey found that:

• One-in-four Australians have untreated tooth decay
• Dental care has remained “chronically under-funded” for the past decade
• About 50% of adults have only “irregular” visits to the dentist
• About The Federal Government spends almost as much on health insurance subsidies for private dental care ($438 million a year) as States spend in total on public dental services (about $500 million)
• Using 2002 figures on public dental care spending, there would only have been enough money to provide every eligible person with one session of basic preventative care every five years
• The introduction of fluoridated water and toothpaste had not “immunised” people born between 1967 and 1983 against decay.
• 20% said that cost had prevented them from having recommended dental treatment

The 2004-06 National Survey of Adult Oral Health was compiled after interviewing 14123 people aged 15 – 97 with 5505 people being dentally examined. The previous survey was conducted in 1987-88.

Today’s Sydney Morning Herald article 'Dental care is failing the needy', summarises the report.