Dental checkup

Image source: Dental Council of NSW

A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) presents a snapshot of the oral health and dental behaviour of Australian adults in 2010. The National Dental Interview Survey was conducted on a random sample of over 10,000 Australian adults during the period July 2010 to February 2011. The survey found that a majority of adults reported they had good dental health, with two thirds having visited a dentist in the previous 12 months. But a significant proportion of those surveyed reported difficulties in accessing affordable dental care. Over 31% reported they avoided or delayed a dental visit due to cost. Those on lower incomes were more likely to report avoiding or delaying a visit due to cost.

Not much to smile about: two new reports highlight dental inequities

Source: Australian Government

Two new dental reports provide a timely overview of the oral health of those with chronic illnesses compared to the broader population, and on the oral health of children and their families.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publication Chronic conditions and oral health reveals disparities in oral health between people with a chronic condition and those without. The publication reports on a survey that measured five oral health impacts: toothache, discomfort with appearance of teeth or mouth, avoidance of some foods due to tooth problems, experience of broken or chipped teeth, and oral facial pain. Two measures of tooth loss were also reported: average number of missing teeth and inadequate dentition (fewer than 21 teeth).

Closure of controversial dental scheme a step closer—but dentists remain in the dark

Image source: Department of Defence

Following the announcement of a $4 billion dental package directed at children and those on low incomes, the Government has moved to close down the controversial Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS). The Health Insurance (Dental Services) Amendment Determination 2012 (No. 1), registered on 6 September 2012, amends the Health Insurance (Dental Services) Determination 2007 to bring about a staged cessation of the CDDS by 30 November 2012. The Determination is a disallowable legislative instrument which must be tabled in Parliament within six sitting days of registration. Either chamber can vote to disallow it within 15 sitting days, as this Senate brief explains.

New dental package announced—but it’s not Denticare

Image source: NT Health

Today the Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced a new dental package worth $4 billion over six years. The government will provide Medicare funded dental services to children and an expanded public dental service for low income adults and those in rural and regional areas, as well as an additional investment in dental infrastructure and workforce.

From January 2014, children aged 2 to 17 will be entitled to up to $1000 for ‘basic’ dental work over a 2 year period from a dentist of their choice on presentation of their Medicare card. Services funded will reportedly include a dental check-up, scale and clean, fissure sealants, and basic restorative work including fillings, but not more complex work such as orthodontics or crowns. The government estimates some 3.4 million children will be eligible.

Calls to waive dentists' debts to Medicare

Image source: WA Department of Health

On 19 March 2012, the Opposition health spokesman the Hon. Peter Dutton, introduced the Health Insurance (Dental Services) Bill 2012 into the House of Representatives. The Bill was also introduced into the Senate on 21 March by Senator David Bushby, and immediately referred to the Senate Finance and Administration Committee for inquiry. The Bill proposes to 'redress past and future inequities that have arisen from the operation of subsection 10(2) of the Health Insurance (Dental Services) Determination 2007' (the Determination). This Determination prescribes the arrangements which allow dentists, dental specialists and dental prosthetists to provide Medicare funded services (capped at $4250 over two years) to patients with chronic conditions as set out under the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS). The Opposition and the Greens also supported a Senate motion on 21 March 2012 calling on the Government to waive debts of dentists.

An overview of universal dental schemes

Image source: Department of Defence

Ongoing reports of poor dental health outcomes and growing concerns that financial barriers are impeding access to affordable dental care continue to fuel calls for reform in the area of dental health. As part of its agreement with the Greens, the Government promised major dental reform but deferred significant action. It funded a number of dental internships last budget and established a national dental advisory council, to provide advice on priorities for dental reform for the upcoming budget. Although this body has presented an interim report to Government, the Minister has indicated she will await the final report before announcing a particular course of action. Meanwhile, the Minister also announced she would direct $165 million in savings from the means testing of the health insurance rebate to dental care.

Stalemate looms over closure of chronic disease dental scheme

Image: Dental Health Services Victoria

It is looking increasingly unlikely that the Government will move to close down the popular, but costly to the budget, chronic disease dental scheme (CDDS) before the end of the year. This is despite increasing pressure on the Government to meet its commitment to return the budget to surplus in 2012–13 and the subsequent savings closure of the scheme would deliver. During recent Senate Estimates hearings in October, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing indicated that while it remains the government's intention to close the scheme, continuing opposition to its closure in the Senate means it is unlikely it will move to do so.

Dental care—holes to be filled

Calls for urgent action on dental care have been a feature of public debate in recent years and were raised yet again in the context of the recent Federal election. The issue remains high on the agenda, as evidenced by the recent agreement between the Greens and Labor which included a commitment to improving investments in dental care.