The ADA says it’s Time to Act for older Australians this federal election

With a long-held commitment to the idea that all Australians, regardless of their ability to pay, should be able to receive dental care, the ADA has declared it’s Time to Act this federal election on addressing the oral and dental health care needs of older Australians.

The ADA is encouraging the major parties to consider:

• implementing a Seniors Dental Benefits Schedule (SDBS) for holders of Commonwealth seniors’ health cards, pensioner concession cards and health care cards who are 65 years or older; and 

• putting oral health assessments into relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule health checks conducted by GPs.

Part of an overall call for all major political parties to prioritise oral health this campaign, the ADA is focusing in particular on the establishment of a SDBS to rectify what Australia’s peak body for dentists says is “a legacy of poor investment in oral health for older people.”

"The ADA commends," says ADA President Dr Chris Sanzaro, "previous federal governments for their commitment to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, but we must do more to address the remaining gaps in the provision of care. We believe that by incorporating the targeted, sustainable and cost-effective measures outlined in this document, it will assist the government to responsibly address gaps in access for older Australians, as identified in several reports, while also supporting states and territories in the provision of oral health services.

"Because everyone in Australia regardless of their ability to pay should be able to receive dental care. There is no health without oral health."

The ADA has repeatedly called for a SDBS to be created, mindful that there is an urgent need for additional, targeted, and sustainable funding to meet the oral and dental health care needs of this most vulnerable cohort of Australians.

And it is an issue that is only set to become more pressing.

As of 30 June 2020, 1 in 6 Australians were aged 65 or over, accounting for 16% of the population, a figure which is expected to double by 2062-63. On average, older Australians aged 65 and over had an average of 13.7 missing teeth. Most (59%) suffered periodontitis and around one-quarter (27%) avoided eating some foods due to problems with their teeth, mouth or dentures (1).

Consumer organisations reported to the Senate Inquiry into the provision of and access to dental care, to which the ADA made active and detailed submissions, that lack of access to affordable dental treatment is a rising source of distress and concern amongst Australia’s elderly population. (2) This is particularly the case amongst pensioners and part-pensioners who cannot afford expensive private health insurance policies that offer rebates for dental care, albeit with restrictions on rebates, qualifying periods and exclusions. 

An ADA-driven pilot program in eastern Sydney intends to provide a blueprint for a SDBS, which would include (a) preventative care (b) restorative treatments and (c) emergency services with a firm focus on the long-term benefits of integrating dental care into the national healthcare system.

As the 2025 federal election nears, the ADA is emphasising that oral health should be a national priority. Implementing a SDBS represents a crucial step toward equitable healthcare, ensuring that older Australians receive the comprehensive care necessary for their overall health and well-being.

(1) National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18 (Do & Luzzi, 2019)

(2) Senate Inquiry into the provision of and access to dental care. Submission 11. Council of the Aged.