Brush up for your good health

The average South Australian aged 75 and over has 23 missing, decayed or filled teeth[1], and the need for dental care in residential aged care facilities has never been greater, according to the Chairman of the Australian Dental Foundation (ADFi) Dr Greg Miller.

ADFi will raise awareness of oral health in residential aged care by distributing free toothpaste to more than 1200 residents of the 13 Eldercare residential aged care facilities in SA as part of Dental Health Week (August 4-10).

“We have been active over the past decade, not just in advocating for better funding and provision of dental care for seniors, but in also putting our boots on the ground to take our mobile dental services to residents of aged care,” Dr Miller said.

ADFi visited more than 120 aged care facilities in SA in 2024, and provided dental care to almost 2000 residents.

“That figure of 22.9 missing, decayed or filled teeth in SA seniors represents 75% of the average adults’ teeth. Even when you take out the number of people who have full dentures, we are looking at a disease burden that affects the overall health and wellbeing of seniors and causes preventable hospital admissions. We have to do better.”

In 2022-23, 15,959 people aged 65 and over were hospitalised for preventable dental conditions around Australia.

ADFi also provides education and support for aged care staff, who are seeking more assistance in how to care for seniors’ teeth. The Foundation has signed service agreements with several large providers, which includes provision of that education. In SA, this includes Eldercare, Calvary, Bolton Clark and LHI Group. It also visits facilities for Southern Cross Care, Clayton Homes, Bene, Helping Hand, Estia, Resthaven, and many more.

Through its partnership with the Australian Dental Foundation and the commitment of its site-based teams, Eldercare achieved more than five times the industry average of older people attending regular dental appointments in residential care.

Eldercare’s General Manager Wellbeing and Allied Programs Bernard Morrison said the organisation’s partnership with ADFi allowed residents to receive specialist services on-site.

“Access to dental services for older people can be limited by physical frailty, cognitive impairment, and co-morbidities, but ADFi’s mobile dental teams help us to overcome these obstacles by routinely visiting all of our sites to provide specialist management of oral disease and related problems,” said Bernard.
Australian Dental Foundation is Australia’s largest dental charity.

[1] From the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia/contents/healthy-teeth