THE ROYAL Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is pointing to the TOOTH program run out Dubbo as proof it can deliver dental services to rural and remote Australia, if given the chance.
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A new report tabled in federal parliament this week has prompted a service saving lives since 1928 to reveal its ambition to roll out a national oral health program.
It is driven by a shocking disparity between the oral health of people in metropolitan and rural and remote communities.
The RFDS reports that 65 per cent of Australia’s land mass is “not supported by a robust, co-ordinated oral health care service”.
The consequences are being seen by Dubbo-based Dr Callum Addison, the dentist working on the TOOTH (The Outback Oral Treatment and Health) program.
In the past 12 months the TOOTH program has provided urgent and preventative dental care to more than 1600 residents through 256 “fly-in” clinics at Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Goodooga and Bourke.
“You can see the statistics but until you see it first-hand it doesn’t really hit home,” Dr Addison said.
“Most Australians living in cities are unaware of the poor dental standards in outback Australia.
“Data suggests the TOOTH program, which provides free and comprehensive dental care to those most in need, is now getting into hard-to-reach population groups in NSW. The greater number of new patients accessing dental care includes Indigenous Australians, who represented 49 per cent of all adult patients in the last year.”
The RFDS flagged its intentions and capabilities after the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing tabled Bridging the Dental Gap: Report on the inquiry into adult dental services.
The inquiry seeks to determine how access to public dental services can be improved for adult Australians most in need of them.
RFDS national chief executive officer Greg Rochford commended the inquiry for recognising that remote, rural and regional residents faced geographic challenges in accessing appropriate dental care, which increased the likelihood of dental disease.
“We support the Dental Services National Partnership Agreements, currently being negotiated by the Australian Government, which would require state and territory governments to develop improved linkages with private providers of dental services and not-for-profit organisations to help deliver dental services to patients in need,” he said.
Mr Rochford argues that the RFDS is well placed to treat oral disease, one of the most widespread yet preventable health problems in Australia.
“With 21 bases and 61 aircraft covering 90 per cent of the continent and 85 years experience in delivering 24/7 emergency, preventative and primary heath services, the RFDS already has the necessary infrastructure, medical expertise and networks to deliver a cost-effective oral health program to rural and remote Australia,” he said.
Mr Rochford said the RFDS operated a number of successful dental programs, which were helping to restore oral health in many isolated communities.
He singled out the TOOTH program that was “already making a real difference.”
It is 12 months this week since the program was launched with $2.5 million seed funding for three years from the Investec and Gonski foundations, and RFDS donors.
The TOOTH program is reported to be addressing serious and untreated dental disease while providing unprecedented experience in outback dentistry and oral health to university students.
RFDS South Eastern Section chief executive officer Clyde Thomson reports of many people becoming regular patients of the TOOTH program after not having seen a dentist for years.
There was a 19 per cent jump in patient numbers in the first quarter of 2013 as the program’s profile increased.
Adults an children are seeking treatment and advice.
In the second quarter of 2012 children with an average of five decaying teeth were being seen, compared with 2.9 in the first quarter of this year.
“We think the TOOTH program has clearly demonstrated what a vital service the RFDS is providing to the residents of outback NSW,” Mr Thomson said.
Support for expansion of the program has come from chair of Investec Bank Australia and the Gonski Foundation, David Gonski, who has checked out the TOOTH clinics.
“A good solid base has been created on which governments can build,” he said.
“ I would personally like to see TOOTH expanded throughout NSW and where ever else it is needed across Australia.”