Dentistry added to general healthcare in historic new trial for Australian seniors

MEDIA RELEASE

A LANDMARK private health initiative that aims to transform the healthcare of millions of older Australians will launch this week in Eastern Sydney, with 100 seniors set to join the pilot program.

The patients joining the Seniors Dental Benefits Schedule (SDBS) pilot will have their regular GP-provided health care plans expanded to include free individualised dental plans, marking the first time in Australian history that oral healthcare has been included in formal health management frameworks.

The program was designed by a group of dental industry leaders in response to urgent calls from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the 2023 Senate Inquiry into Access to Dental Services in Australia. Both inquiries warned of alarming trends in preventable dental hospitalisations among Australians aged 65 and over, and endemic oral health problems for aged care residents. 

By coordinating patients’ dentistry and oral care more closely with the medical care they receive from general practitioners, the program aims to prevent or contain oral health problems that can seriously impact seniors’ overall health and quality of life.

After receiving an initial oral health assessment, each patient in the pilot will receive a tailored treatment plan developed by independent dentists practising from Primary Dental at Maroubra Medical & Dental Centre in Sydney. Treatment will be scheduled over multiple appointments if needed, allowing the dental team to deliver comprehensive care.

Upon completion, a final review and mouth scan will be conducted, with results shared with each participant’s GP and care plan nurse, and reviewed by University of Sydney researchers, who will assess the model for wider application.

“For years, dentists have been calling on our governments and health bureaucrats to ‘put the mouth back into the body’ because treating oral care separately from other health care makes no sense, given how important a healthy teeth and mouth are to a person’s overall wellbeing,” Primary Dental Director Lisa Conway said.

“Seniors often face barriers to dental care due to cost or limited access, which can result in untreated issues that not only cause pain but also affect quality of life, especially for those managing chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, two conditions well demonstrated by research to be affected by oral diseases.”

The SDBS pilot program is a first-time collaboration led by ForHealth Group, Primary Dental (Part of the ForHealth Group), in partnership with the Australian Dental Association (ADA), with funding from Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) and lab and consumables provided by Race Dental.

CESPHN General Manager of Primary Care Improvement Brendan Goodger welcomed the focus on providing more accessible dental care as Australians age.

“Many older Australians in care struggle with eating solid foods due to a lack of accessible dental care,” Mr Goodger said. “This program aims to change that, improving both health and quality of life.”

Australian Dental Association Deputy CEO Eithne Irving agreed, adding: “Currently, there are substantial barriers to accessing dental care for low-income seniors, primarily due to cost. This often leads to preventable issues escalating to the point where individuals are left in pain, ultimately seeking care in hospital emergency departments. Each year in Australia, there are over 70,000 dental-related presentations to emergency departments, costing the healthcare system millions and highlighting the urgent need for accessible preventative dental care.

The four-month pilot will draw from a patient pool of concession card holders aged 65 and above, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 55, all with chronic health conditions.

University of Sydney researchers will then assess how this model of accessible, integrated dental treatment can potentially improve overall health outcomes for the participants and older Australians, especially those managing chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  

Results are expected to be released in March 2025.

“We think that if it is successful in its goals, the program could readily be rolled out nationally – and we will be asking the Albanese Government to consider it as a sustainable and permanent solution to the oral health nightmare for millions of older Australians,” Australian Dental Association Deputy CEO Eithne Irving said.

This program is also supported by Pearl.ai, Trios, and Dental4Windows (D4W), this initiative aims to create a pathway to healthier, happier lives for seniors by seamlessly integrating dental and medical care.

For media inquiries: 

Ramya Gourri, ForHealth Group Head of Marketing 0452 482 606 

Jenny Barlass, Australian Dental Association Federal Media Advisor 0497 748 331 

Additional information: 

*In 2021-2022, this patient cohort required a staggering 4,595 bed days in NSW hospitals alone for preventable dental issues.-  link

*Recent polling by the Council on the Ageing revealed 44% of low-income older Australians delayed or avoided dental visits due to cost, while 37% of Australians aged 55+ similarly reported financial barriers. 

*73% of Australians expressed support for a Senior Dental Benefits Schedule, underlining the pressing need for accessible dental care solutions. 

For more information, visit link.