Better oral health outcomes in our elderly population is being touted as a major priority for advocates as the federal election campaign begins.
Key points:Advocates call for specific dental program for older people to address “significant” oral issuesAbout one in four older Australians have untreated tooth decayExpert says often pain associated with poor oral health goes uncheckedWhile an often overlooked health issue, experts say poor oral health is associated with and can contribute to cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes and cancers.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) says about one in four older Australians have untreated tooth decay, and more than half have gum disease.
About 20 per cent of aged Australians have lost all their adult teeth and instead rely on dentures.
Meanwhile, one in eight Australians over 15 years old delayed or outright did not see a dental professional once during 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The average wait time for public dental services is 12 months.(ABC Mid North Coast: Kerrin Thomas)Council on the Ageing president Ian Yates said poor dental hygiene could lead to further social isolation and mental health issues.
“Many older people struggle because in our dental services, we don’t have the equivalent of Medicare,” Mr Yates said.
Ian Yates says many people cannot afford to pay for dental work.(ABC News: Ross Nerdal)He said the Whitlam government’s plan to include dentistry in Medicare never came to fruition.
“There is public dental care, but they really only deal with emergency situations, in terms of the adult population … and they have lo
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