While nearly 60 per cent of adult Australians visited the dentist in the year before a national dental survey was conducted, one in three say they avoid or delay dental visits because of the cost, according to a report released at the end of last week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Among dentate adults (those with at least one or more natural teeth) who visited in the previous 12 months, about 56 per cent went for a dental check-up and 44 per cent for a dental problem at their most recent visit.
Only one in five who made a dental visit in the previous year said that cost prevented them undergoing recommended treatment.
The report, Oral health and use of dental services: Findings from the National Dental Telephone Interview Survey 2008, is based on interviews with a random sample of 6,600 Australian adults. It can be found online here.
AIHW spokesperson Dr Jane Harford said the report findings showed that affordability of dental care was a prominent factor for those Australians who didn’t make a dental visit.
Commenting on the findings from the survey, ADA Vice President, Dr Karin Alexander said it proves yet again that Australia needs a targeted and means tested dental scheme to help those people most in need.
“The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) has repeatedly called for the Government to target funding to the 30 per cent of Australians that aren’t getting to the dentist now. Targeting this way is the best way to get the greatest value for money for the Australian taxpayer and return for those that can’t access dental care”, said.
“We should not accept that 32 per cent of patients had to wait more than two years for treatment in a public clinic because they couldn’t afford to pay privately for treatment”, Dr Alexander went on to add.
The survey found that Australians with a Commonwealth Concession card were more likely than non-cardholders to have avoided or delayed visiting a dentist because of cost, to have cost prevent them from having recommended treatment, and to have had a lot of difficulty in paying a $150 dental bill.
Although cardholders are eligible for public-funded dental care, only 25 per cent of cardholders visited a public dental clinic at their last visit.
“On average, 25 per cent of those who visited a public clinic waited between 1 and 2 years for their appointment, and 32 per cent waited more than 2 years,” Dr Harford said.
Cardholders had twice as many missing teeth as non-cardholders and were more likely to experience toothache, be uncomfortable with the appearance of their mouth and avoid some foods because of oral problems.
“Engaging with dentists in the design of any future dental scheme will be critical to ensuring success of the scheme and in delivering on the oral health care needs of Australians who are most in need,” said the ADA’s Dr Alexander. “We don’t want a repeat of any of the problems that have occurred with the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme.”
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