General Dentistry
Everyone should have the chance to have a healthy mouth as part of their overall health. Dental services to the community should be provided through an integrated system of private and public practices, with dentists leading the dental team. Oral health promotion, dental workforce training and research should be adequately funded by government.
Community Oral Health Promotion
2.1. The following areas are identified as essential to improve the oral health of the community.
- Maintenance of good oral hygiene
- Promotion of and access to healthy diet choices
- Community and individual use of fluorides
- Discouragement of tobacco and e-cigarette use
- Discouragement of the use of alcohol
- Discouragement of illicit drug use
- Oro-facial trauma prevention and management
2.2. Governments should address the social determinants of health.
2.3. Oral diseases should be prioritised as a critical public health concern due to their significant global impact and shared risk factors with other noncommunicable diseases.
Delivery of Oral Health Care
2.4. Dentistry is an essential health service, and every individual should have access.
2.5. The dentist, by providing a full spectrum of care, is the primary provider of dental services to the community. Dentist-based systems of care and delivery must be accorded top priority.
2.6. The provision of dental services to the community should be based on a mixture of private and public practice where patients should be able to choose their provider.
2.7. Public health dentistry should identify and target at risk groups such as children, adolescents, older people, disabled people, those living in regional and remote areas, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the prevention of oral disease.
2.8. Federal and State funding must be expanded for oral health services for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.
2.9. A dedicated oral health division led by a dentist within the Commonwealth Department of Health is essential to providing expert guidance to the Federal Government. A team dedicated to oral health is required within the Commonwealth Department of Health to ensure appropriate advice is given to the Federal Government. This team should be led by a dentist.
3.1. The dental workforce should be planned and developed to meet community needs, with particular attention to rural and remote areas.
3.2. Dental education should include appropriate training in public health, cultural competency, and community engagement.
3.3. Continuing professional development must be supported and accessible to all members of the dental team across all geographic regions.
4.1. Government funding for oral health research should be commensurate with the burden of disease.
4.2. National surveillance of oral health status should be conducted regularly and data made publicly available to inform policy.
4.3. The translation of research findings into clinical practice and public health policy should be actively supported.
4.1. Government funding for oral health research should be commensurate with the burden of disease.
4.2. National surveillance of oral health status should be conducted regularly and data made publicly available to inform policy.
4.3. The translation of research findings into clinical practice and public health policy should be actively supported.
4.1. Government funding for oral health research should be commensurate with the burden of disease.
4.2. National surveillance of oral health status should be conducted regularly and data made publicly available to inform policy.
4.3. The translation of research findings into clinical practice and public health policy should be actively supported.