ADA responds to the Green's dentistry in Medicare proposal

The release of a report by the Greens Party last week, proposing dental care for every Australian be put into Medicare, has attracted widespread media coverage. 

But at a cost of $46bn every 4 years and with the enormous workforce shortages associated with providing even the most basic care for 26 million Australians, ADA President Dr Scott Davis and other spokespeople including Dr Angie Nilsson have explained on TV, radio and in print that it's far more realistic to start smaller with a dental scheme for our most vulnerable populations starting with one for seniors. Costed at $15bn a decade, this is clearly more affordable and easier to roll out in terms of dental workforce. 

In his response to the Greens' proposal, the Health Minister Mark Butler said there will be no change in the current system any time soon.

Dr Angie Nilsson, ADA Board member, interviewed by Richard Glover on ABC Radio Sydney

Dr Scott Davis, ADA President and Board member, speaking with ABC News Radio