The National Dental Health Advisory Council (NDHAC) has released its first report into the nation’s dental health, finding that $10 billion is required to stop the deterioration of the nation’s dental health.

 

The report urges the formation of a universal Denticare scheme to stop the steady decline in overall dental health, an occurrence that hasn’t been seen since the 1970’s.

 

The group authored the report after its formation in September last year when the then Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, and Greens Senator Richard Di Natale announced the establishment of the body to conduct an indepth analysis of the country’s dental health.

 

While the report finds ‘significant improvements to oral health over the past few decades’, it has found that too many Australians struggle to access services. The report found that many of those who struggle to access services suffer from poor oral health, suffer pain and social exclusion and have poorer general health.

 

“The burden of poor oral health is greatest in lower income groups and for rural and remote residents.  The reasons for poor oral health are complex, but structural factors play a major role.  In a dental system which is largely private, affordability remains a key barrier,” the report found.

 

The report suggests that a combined federal, state and territory governments invest over $10 billion to fix the system, suggesting:

 

  • The states and territories have a long standing involvement in school dental services and could develop the capacity to care for all children, particularly focused on those most in need.  In this combination of options, states would be responsible for delivering services to children.  States would also undertake additional activities to reach those children who currently do not have access to adequate care.  
  • The Commonwealth would take responsibility for concession card holder adults for preventive and treatment services.  This could be built around an altered CDDS framework.  Eligible adults would access services in the public or private sector.  Phasing of this option could provide short‐term assistance to the 400,000 adults on public dental waiting lists

 

The report estimates that cost for this option would be in order of around $10.1 billion.

 

The report can be found here