Australia: Billions Are Spent On Dental Care

ELEANOR HALL: In the midst of the turmoil over the Labor leadership yesterday, the Federal Government released the final report from its National Advisory Council on Dental Health.

The council recommends a range of options to work towards the goal of universal dental care, including one plan that would cost around $10 billion over the next four years. 

But the Government is not yet willing to commit to that level of investment, as it focuses on its goal of returning the budget to surplus.

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Dental Health Reform For Australians

While many people say they fear going to the dentist it is more often the cost rather than the drill that causes the most pain. More than one-third of Australians say they put off going to the dentist because they cannot afford it.

Australia ranks among the bottom third of OECD countries for adult dental decay and people on low incomes and those living in poverty and social disadvantage experience a disproportionate burden of disease. Research shows they experience higher rates of tooth loss and decay and the most difficulty accessing and affording dental services.

The expert report of the National Advisory Council on Dental Health, released last week, seeks to address the current inequities in dental health by proposing a new national oral health system to provide equitable, affordable access to dental care for all Australians.

Adults and Orthodontics

Orthodontics
Probably the best-known of the dental specialties, Orthodontics sets its sights on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems such as overbites and underbites. (These problems are known in the field as malocclusion, or "bad bite.") Orthodontists straighten and align teeth and jaws, most often using appliances such as braces and retainers.

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Australia: What Is Universal Dental Care?

ASHLEY HALL: When the Federal Government struck a deal with the Greens to form government, it agreed to make a much greater investment in dental care.

And as part of that commitment, it commissioned the National Advisory Council on Dental Health to investigate the potential of a universal dental care scheme like Medicare.

The Government released the council's final report on Monday but its findings were largely over-shadowed by the Labor leadership vote.

The council set a long term goal of universal and equitable access to dental care for all Australians.

But with the Government committed to delivering a budget surplus next financial year, it seems unlikely it will have the money to implement such a broad based scheme.

It's a big dilemma for the Government, because it's also promised a substantial investment in dental care in the next budget.

An increasing number of Australians say they're putting off visiting the dentist because of the cost. About one in four Australians has untreated decay and studies show that poor oral health can lead to much bigger health problems.

So can Australia afford not to pursue a universal dental care scheme?