Oral Health Tracker launched on World Oral Health Day

To mark World Oral Health Day today, the Australian Dental Association and the Australian Health Policy Collaboration have launched Australia's Oral Health Tracker.

The tracker highlights the intrinsic link between oral health and preventable chronic diseases, conditions and their risk factors, underscoring the significant extent to which oral health affects general health and wellbeing.

It is a collaboration between some of Australia's leading dental academics, researchers, clinicians, policy and public health experts, and forms part of the Australia's Health Tracker series - a set of national report cards that chart progress on preventing and better managing oral disease.

Find out more

ADA News

Australia's Oral Health Tracker

World Oral Health Day

Respect public dentistry so everyone can smile - sign our online petition today

Victorian public sector dentists are calling for increased funding and a more sustainable system - 19 months is too long to wait for care.

Our Victorian public sector dentists are paid 40% LESS than their colleagues in other states. It’s time for the Victorian Government to #RespectPublicDentistry.

What can you do?

Sign our online Megaphone petition and send the Victorian Health Minister, Jill Hennessy MP, a message that everyone deserves a healthy smile and access to quality oral health care:  https://lnkd.in/drJuBU8 Help us reach 500 signatures!

Not an ADAVB member? Your public sector colleague members need you. Join us today and support our campaign to #RespectPublicDentistry.

Know any public sector dentist colleagues that aren't ADAVB members? Share our posts, urge them to sign the petition https://lnkd.in/drJuBU8 and email us at ask@adavb.org to join the ADAVB and be a part of our #RespectPublicDentistry campaign.

Follow and like us on Facebook for ADAVB/Professionals Australia campaign updates:
https://www.facebook.com/AusDentalVic/

eviDent walkers set off on 71km adventure to raise funds for oral health research

Good luck to all our eviDent walkers today as they set off on a crisp, dark, early morning to commence their incredible 71 km adventure along the Great Ocean Walk to raise funds for the eviDent Foundation. Their commitment to training, preparing and raising funds has been amazing.

Post your messages of support for their journey on our Facebook events page

And track their progress via https://share.garmin.com/evidentGOR

Or support them with a donation: 

https://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/JodieDobson1

https://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/MeaghanQuinn0

https://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/MaryandKen

https://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/BobCvetkovic

https://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/JeremySternson0

https://personalchallenge.gofundraise.com.au/page/BrettOnslow

New ADA report: Government should provide tax incentives for Australians saving for their own healthcare

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has released a major new report, Saving for ones' care, which provides fresh impetus for government to re-examine how health policy is delivered in Australia.

Commissioned from the Centre for International Economics, the report proposes tax incentives which would allow Australians to save for their own dental and allied health care (such as physiotherapy and optical), with the ADA calling for bipartisan support for exploring a model that is both good economic health policy and common sense.

The proposal of incentivising a health savings account recognises that the existing funding arrangement for dental care, primarily through general treatment or "extras" cover offered by private health insurers, does not provide sufficient value for consumers.

Using tax incentives would encourage community-wide saving for extras health care needs, and Australians would be rewarded for proactively managing their health in a way that overcomes the limitations of extras cover and retains their freedom of choice in the practitioner they use.

The ADA has repeatedly stated that extras cover is not real insurance. Rather than acting as a product that protects against unexpected costs, extras cover provides a subsidy at best in most instances, with restrictions and caps limiting both its effectiveness and fairness.

Find out more - ADA website featured news story
Read the full report - Saving for ones' care

International Women's Day Breakfast: Oral health of women +$1000 CPD giveaway

Breakfast seminar

Join us on International Women's Day as we discuss the "Oral health of women" at a breakfast seminar presented by women's oral health expert, Dr Elizabeth Milford and chaired by ADAVB President, Dr Susan Wise.

Date: Thursday 8 March
Venue: Stamford Hotel Plaza
Breakfast: 8.00am 
Presentation: 8.30am-9.30am
$1000 CPD GIVEAWAY!

Register online (using Paypal or download the PDF form) or email cpd@adab.org
ADAVB members and non-members welcome. 
Discounts apply for members and recent graduate dentistry students.

Proudly supported by MW Partners and BOQ Specialist.

Facts about women's oral health

The ADAVB encourages women to speak to their dentist and to seek information on how to protect their teeth and gums during periods of hormonal change, such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

Recent ADA research findings showed that 65% of Australians hadn’t visited the dentist in six months. The Australian Women and Dental Survey in 2016 found that two thirds (67.1%) of Australian teenage girls going through puberty don’t regularly visit the dentist.

A recent Jean Hailes research study found that the health condition women were most concerned about was menopause. The ADA study found that of those entering menopause, almost half (48.9%) have experienced signs of gum disease including sensitive teeth (26.9%) and dry mouth (14.4%), yet 70% admitted they do not visit the dentist every six months.

And, mothers-to-be are jeopardising the health of their teeth and gums by avoiding a visit to
the dentist during pregnancy (53%).

Dr Susan Wise, President ADAVB, said, “Contrary to myths about dental work during pregnancy, it is very important to visit the dentist during pregnancy, as hormone changes can make gums more prone to bleeding, swelling and inflammation. All these conditions can lead to an increased risk of gum disease, and in severe cases, can cause tooth loss. Dry mouth and gum disease are common dental health issues in women going through menopause and these can be avoided or better managed through regular visits to your dentist and by following their advice to better manage your condition.”

Join your ADAVB colleagues and get involved in eviDent's Mouthguard March campaign!

Did you know that only 36% of Australian sport players wear a mouthguard when participating in a contact sport, and even less wear a mouthguard during training?

Even celebrities aren't immune to such injuries. Radio and TV personality, Andy Lee, discovered this the hard way, when he snapped his two front teeth during an ice hockey incident in 2010 - he wasn't wearing a mouthguard.

Sports-related injuries account for nearly 40% of dental injuries. This March, the eviDent Foundation needs you to help turn this around. Join our Mouthguard March campaign aimed at reminding parents and players of the importance of wearing a mouthguard during sport.

Join your colleagues that have already signed up and enjoy these great benefits: 

• A fantastic colour poster for display in your practice for all your patients to see
• Engaging campaign images for use on your website and social media platforms
• Promotion of your participation on eviDent website, eviDent’s social media, and Caring For Your Kids' Teeth Facebook page
• Inclusion of your practice name in reports about the campaign, including in the eviDent Foundation Annual Report
• Provision of eviDent Foundation materials to display such as research project brochures,  annual reports, banners, etc.
• Issue of tax receipts (for donations only).

Taking part in eviDent's Mouthguard March campaign publicly demonstrates your practice’s commitment to protecting the teeth of Australians who participate in sport, and creates a sense of social responsibility for your staff and patients.

Care for your patients and at the same time help to raise funds for oral health research, by contributing a portion of mouthguard sales to eviDent.

Register today in just two easy steps:

1. Find out more about the campaign and how to register.
2. Complete an expression of interest online form and press send!

Once we receive your expression of interest we will get in touch with you.

Image above reprinted with permission: Hamish Blake and Andy Lee following the 2010 ice skating incident.