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Date: 20th October 2004 Ref No: 3004
The Forgotten Health Problem – Teeth
“Dental Health has emerged as the forgotten health problem, particularly afflicting poor people” said Mark Henley, Manager of Advocacy and Communication for UnitingCare Wesley.
UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide has undertaken a survey of financial counselling clients about their dental health, because of the observation that low-income people presenting to services were increasingly reporting problems with their dental health. Findings include:
·
50% of the clients surveyed had not seen a dentist for over 2 years,
30% had not seen a dentist for over 5 years. For all Australians only
10% haven’t seen a dentist in the last 5 years.
·
76% of clients reported that their last visit to a dentist was for
an immediate problem, whereas for all Australians this figure is 43%
·
63% of clients reported toothache in the last 12 months compared
to 14% for all Australians.
The report concludes: ‘In all measures of access to dental care clients of financial counsellors, break even gambling and personal support program clients were more disadvantaged. Their expression of need for dental care associated with the lack of access in terms of time since their last visit and reason for visiting indicates that this group experiences greater disadvantage than other groups investigated.’
UnitingCare notes that the State Development Committee (of Parliament) report on Poverty, released last year, included recommendations for action on dental health. UnitingCare Wesley recommends the following specific measures for State Government action:
1. The development and public release of a State Oral Health Plan that
deals with prevention and well as treatment strategies, particularly
directed to low income households
2. A commitment to an increase in funding for public dental services,
by 10%.
3. Strategies to recruit additional dentists and dental hygienists
to the public dental service,
4. Promotion of availability of Emergency Dental Services and Hardship
“The Commonwealth Government also needs to act” added Mr Henley, “firstly by resurrecting the Commonwealth State Dental Health Program and by adding dental treatment to the Medicare schedule, so low income people can claim for dental treatment.
Report Release and Photo / Interview Opportunities
The report will be released at a ‘Poverty and Health’ Forum
on Thursday 21st October at 10.30 at St Francis Xavier hall, eastern
side of the Cathedral on Wakefield St. Speakers, Dr Anne Sanders, Linda
(consumer) and Julie McMahon, Financial Counsellor
Further Comment:
Mark Henley
Manager Advocacy & Communication
8202 5135 (w)
0404 067 011 (m)
8370 1112 (h)
