Gum disease is considered a "silent disease" but demand for specialist care for sufferers at Dubbo is loud and clear.
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One in four Australian adults have periodontal disease with gaping periodontal pockets four millimetres or deeper, which can lead to tooth loss, the latest oral health survey shows.
It was released on Friday for 2020 World Oral Health Day by the Australian Dental Association with the Australian Health Policy Collaboration.
Adults with periodontal pockets shot up from 19.8 per cent in 2018 to 28.8 per cent, it shows.
One Dubbo dental surgery reports demand for specialist periodontal care was "quite significant", with it previously needing to refer a number of patients each month to a periodontist in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle or Orange.
While making referrals, Parkside Dental owner and dental hygienist Jennie Tylee-Porter was concerned about long distance travel being a barrier for patients, so she moved to start a periodontal clinic led by Professor Axel Spahr.
He is head of periodontics at Sydney Dental Hospital and head of the discipline of periodontics at the University of Sydney. Ms Tylee-Porter said before Professor Spahr started visiting Dubbo, patients were needing to organise time off work, flights, accommodation and in some cases child care to attend appointments, and at times there were waits of six to nine months.
Ms Tylee-Porter said the new clinic, to be held about six times a year, meant patients were no longer faced with the added financial burden of accessing appropriate specialist care.
"Treatment is able to be provided in a faster time frame ensuring the periodontal disease is addressed and patients are able to keep their natural teeth for longer," she said.
"Prior to Professor Spahr visiting Dubbo, patients who suffered from gum disease would be facing tooth loss due to the distance and extra cost involved in accessing specialist periodontal care.
"In 2020, I did not feel this was acceptable for patients to be faced with tooth loss simply due to living in the country."
Ms Tylee-Porter reports gum disease is a "silent disease" because it does not display many symptoms.
"If anyone is experiencing problems with their gum health such as bleeding gums, mobile teeth, gum recession they should seek attention," she said.
"If periodontal disease is left untreated it can lead to jaw bone and subsequent tooth loss. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease which has been linked to other health conditions such as heart disease, strokes and Alzheimer's disease."