Oral health of older Australians at risk due to lack of government action on dental care

Australia: The Council on the Ageing (COTA), Australia’s leading advocate for older Australians, has raised concerns about the oral health of older Australians due to a lack of government action on dental care.

COTA CEO, Patricia Sparrow, made the comments on World Oral Health Day, highlighting the need for a publicly funded senior dental health program bulk billed through Medicare.

Lack of Affordable and Accessible Dental Care

According to Sparrow, many older Australians are being forced to deal with long-lasting health consequences due to a lack of affordable and accessible dental care.

 “A lack of government action is resulting in many older Australians being forced to deal with long-lasting health consequences due to a lack of affordable and accessible dental care,” said Sparrow.

Australian dental health research underfunded

 “One of the key recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission was the introduction of a publicly funded senior dental scheme, but we’re still yet to see meaningful action on its introduction.

 “It is not just a matter of cosmetic appearance; oral health is an essential measure of overall health and quality of life. Good oral health is vital to overall health and wellbeing, yet many older Australians face challenges accessing basic dental health services.”

Treatment Wait Times Over Two Years

Although public dental clinics are available, treatment wait times can be over two years, and services are limited to essential treatments.

COTA is calling on the government to develop a Senior Dental Benefits Schedule, which would target those who need it most, including older people on low incomes, those living in residential aged care homes, or receiving home care packages. Sparrow believes that investing in a national dental program now would prove to be an immeasurable investment for the government, improving the dental and overall health of older Australians while reducing long-term costs created by the lack of access to dental care.