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22 October 2006
New oral health alliance bites into dental concerns
New oral health alliance bites into dental concerns
Oral health issues will be championed by a new alliance formed in Brisbane last week involving the Queensland branches of the Australian Dental Association, the Australian Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Society and the Public Health Association Australia.
The Queensland Oral Health Alliance will work to reduce the growing dental inequities which are exacerbated by the continuing population migration to Queensland, growing numbers of older people retaining their teeth for longer, the epidemic of tooth decay in children and long public dental waiting lists.
"We are on the cusp of a major oral health crisis in Queensland.
The issues are poor diet and oral hygiene as well as inadequate access to health care and fluoridated water," said ADAQ president Robert McCray.
"The formation of this alliance demonstrates doctors, pharmacists, dentists and public health advocates are taking a strategic approach to reducing the overburden of dental disease which is having a significant impact on the general health of Queenslanders," Dr McCray said.
"Poor oral health has a major impact on nutrition, self-esteem and wellbeing of many Queenslanders.
It is an appalling reality that in Logan, there are currently 650 children aged under-six on waiting lists to have an average of 8.5 teeth extracted or filled, while elderly patients are chewing on their gums for three years while waiting for new dentures."
"Poor oral health impacts across all health disciplines, particularly in oral cancer, cardiac and diabetic patients and in pregnancy, and treatment of the physically and cognitively impaired has been forever under-resourced."
Dr McCray said there is a nationwide shortage of dentists which needs to be addressed by making more training places available at universities and with an investment in infrastructure, but this is compounded in Queensland by unique, historical factors which include an ongoing lack of access to fluoridated water.
"The alliance is adopting a health-care team approach to identify actions that will help to improve oral health outcomes for Queenslanders.
These actions are guided by the National Oral Health Plan 2004-2013 which outlines recommended steps to achieving those outcomes."
Chair of Australian Medical Association Queensland Council of General Practice Dr Mason Stevenson said: "Poor oral health resulting in severe dental decay is an increasingly common presentation to GPs and emergency departments in Queensland.
This problem has reached crisis proportions, which is a disgrace. We need to work towards better preventative strategies and better access to dental services."
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Queensland branch president Warren Blee said: "Poor oral health of the teeth and gums is addressed in pharmacies every day and adversely affects not only the diet of patients, but also the need for and effectiveness of medications.
Neglecting oral health now, means the community will suffer both discomfort and unnecessary health expense in the future, and pharmacists enthusiastically support this team approach."
Public Health Association of Australia Queensland branch representative Helen Clifford said: "Oral health is fundamental to overall health, well-being and quality of life.
While the Queensland Government invests more in oral health than any other state or territory health department, Queenslanders continue to experience the highest levels of disease.
It is essential that Queenslanders work together to address this issue using the most effective and efficient strategies available."
All of the information included on this web site is accurate to the best of knowledge of the Australian Dental Association (Queensland Branch). To make the text more readable for non-scientists, ADAQ has deliberately minimised attributions and links to supporting files or scientific attachments. However these sources are readily available if required and many can be found via www.health.qld.gov.au/fluoride. |
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