A pilot program delivered through an integrated medical and dental model in Maroubra has demonstrated the potential benefits of improving access to affordable oral healthcare for older Australians living with chronic health conditions.
The Maroubra Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme Demonstration Project (SDBS-DP), co-funded by Central and Eastern Sydney PHN and ForHealth, explored whether targeted dental care delivered through a primary care setting could improve oral health outcomes and inform the development of a future national Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme.
The project enrolled 70 eligible participants aged 65 years and over (or 55 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who were living with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or both, and who held a concession card or met other eligibility criteria.
Poor oral health is associated with a range of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and respiratory disease. However, dental care remains inaccessible for many older Australians due to cost, long waiting times and competing financial priorities.
Many participants in the Maroubra project reported delaying or avoiding dental treatment because they could not afford it, resulting in untreated disease and declining oral health.
The demonstration project sought to address this gap by integrating dental care with existing chronic disease management pathways. Eligible patients were identified through the medical practice, contacted by chronic disease management nurses and referred into a coordinated dental care pathway.
Treatment summaries were also shared with patients’ GPs through My Health Record, supporting a more connected approach to care.
The evaluation found participants entered the program with substantial unmet oral health needs.
Across the project:
The most common services included comprehensive oral examinations, oral hygiene instruction, periodontal treatment, restorative work and denture services.
Researchers found that all clinically evident dental decay among participants who completed treatment had been addressed by the end of the program, demonstrating the capacity of the model to achieve oral health stabilisation for many patients.
While clinical outcomes were positive, participant feedback highlighted broader benefits extending beyond oral health.
Patients reported improvements in their ability to eat, speak and socialise, as well as increased confidence and self-esteem.
One participant said: “The dentures fit much better now and I can eat things I couldn’t eat before.”
Another reported: “My self-esteem was very low before I came here, but it improved a lot.”
The evaluation identified several key themes from interviews and patient narratives, including:
Participants strongly supported continuation of the program, with many advocating for greater investment in oral healthcare for older Australians.
For general practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals and other primary care providers, the findings reinforce the close relationship between oral health and chronic disease management.
The project highlights the value of:
The integrated care model also demonstrates how collaboration between primary care and dental providers can improve access and coordination for patients with complex health needs.
The report concludes that the demonstration project was both feasible to deliver and highly valued by participants. However, researchers note that larger, multi-site studies are needed to better understand long-term outcomes, workforce implications, service demand and the economic impact of a potential national Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme.
For CESPHN and the broader primary healthcare sector, the project provides valuable evidence that integrated approaches to oral health can play an important role in supporting healthy ageing and improving outcomes for older people living with chronic disease.
Read the full report: Maroubra Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme Demonstration Project Report (2026).
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