New dental clinics bring hope to Tasmanians facing oral health crisis
Open wide — new dental clinics are hoping to boost Tassie’s teeth health by making it accessible to all.
Tasmania
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Tasmania’s ongoing oral health challenges are receiving a much-needed boost with the opening of new dental clinics in Launceston and Howrah by not-for-profit health insurer St Lukes.
The new facilities are focused on tackling the state’s severe dental access issues, including lengthy public wait times and a nation-leading shortage of dentists.
Tasmanians currently face some of the longest wait times for non-urgent public dental care in Australia, with delays stretching to nearly four years.
Coupled with the nation’s highest rates of missing adult teeth, the need for improved access to dental services is urgent, and critical.
St Lukes’ new clinics will combine dentists with oral health therapists and hygienists, maximising available on-site resources to provide preventive as well as urgent dental care.
The approach also helps reduce preventable hospital admissions, as dental conditions currently account for 12.5 per cent of avoidable hospitalisation in Tasmania.
“It’s not essential to get your regular scale and clean from a dentist,” said the company’s Chief Health Officer Luke Cameron.
“Dental therapists and hygienists can perform these services and monitor concerns, referring to a dentist if needed.”
The clinics also participate in key government programs, such as the emergency dental voucher system and the federal Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS).
Denise Shukri’s family, including seven-year-old son Ryan, attends the Howrah St Lukes Dental clinic.
The family members see a dentist or oral health therapist for their six-monthly check-ups.
“I think there’s a huge need in the health system to educate and inform people of how important it is to take care of your teeth, and how,” Ms Shukri said.
“There’s a role for dental clinics in helping demystify that for families.”
In addition to its clinics, St Lukes has launched a gap-free dental provider network and a stand-alone dental extras package to make check-ups more affordable.
“Our goal is to make preventive dental accessible to all,” Mr. Cameron said, adding that generational improvements in Tasmanians’ oral health was the long-term goal.
Originally published as New dental clinics bring hope to Tasmanians facing oral health crisis
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