‘It’s time to act’: Advocates call for older Australians’ dental fund in run up to election

Australia’s peak body for dentists is pushing for a publicly funded, dental health program for older Australians and has urged the major parties to support the move in the run-up to the next election.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) wants the government to establish a Seniors Dental Benefits Schedule (SDBS) for older Australians who hold federal concession cards and also put oral health assessments into Medicare health checks conducted by GPs.

An SDBS would function similarly to the existing Children’s Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) and ensure that older adults can access a full range of publicly funded dental health care services with minimal out-of-pocket costs.

ADA’s campaign, Time to Act, focuses on the establishment of a dental scheme to rectify what the organisation said is “a legacy of poor investment in oral health for older people.”

ADA President Dr Chris Sanzaro commended the previous federal governments for their commitment to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) but said more must be done to “address the remaining gaps in the provision of care.”

“We believe that by incorporating a range of targeted, sustainable and cost-effective measures including the SDBS, it will enable the government to responsibly address gaps in access for older Australians, as identified in several reports, while also supporting states and territories in the provision of oral health services,” Dr Sanzaro said.

Latest figures show that Australians over the age of 65 account for around 16 per cent of the population and that figure is expected to double by 2062-63.

Yet many suffered from dental problems. Over half of this age group (59 per cent) suffered periodontitis, and 27 per cent avoided eating some foods due to problems with their teeth, mouth or dentures.

As Dr Sanzaro pointed out, a lack of access to affordable dental treatment was a rising source of distress and concern amongst Australia’s elderly population.

Previously both Labor and the Greens have included similar policies as a part of their election platforms. The preceding Coalition government also reviewed the issue during the Royal Commission into Aged Care Safety and Quality and found that dental health care access was an issue for older Australians.

While the current Labor government has affirmed their commitment to improving access to dentistry services for older Australians, they have not set a timeframe for implementing any policy changes.

Previously, COTA Australia Acting Chief Executive Officer, Corey Irlam, said that political inaction on the issue was putting the health of older Australians at risk.

“Both the ALP and the Greens took a Seniors Dental policy to the 2019 election, and the Coalition Government at the time actively reviewed the issue in responding to the Aged Care Royal Commission, but we’re still yet to see any meaningful action,” Irlam said.

Poor dental health has been linked to other health conditions, Irlam explaining that “as we get older, the stakes get higher”.

“The risks of poor oral health in young people can be substantial, but as we age the risks increase significantly,” Irlam said.

“Evidence shows that poor dental health does not simply increase embarrassment and social isolation, there is also a relationship with the increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and chronic malnutrition in older people.”

If regular dental visits bite into your budget, there are things you can do to keep your teeth happy and healthy.

When it comes to maintaining good oral health in your later years, Advisory Services Manager, Engagement & Advocacy Executive, Dr Sarah Raphael from the Australian Dental Association NSW Branch suggests keeping things simple at the bathroom sink.

“It’s the good old basic things – performing oral hygiene twice daily – toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning dentures and leaving them out at night, eating a diet low in added sugar, drinking tap water as the main drink and staying well hydrated (have a water bottle available at all times),” Raphael said.

Raphael also stresses the importance of prevention over cure and suggests regular dentist visits to stay ahead of possible problems.

“Ensuring that they have regular preventive dental visits in their senior years is the best way to avoid these consequences,” she said.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.