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Grattan Institute
Summary
The Cost of Dental Health
When Australians need to see a GP, Medicare picks up all or most of
the bill. But when they need to see a dentist, Australians are on their own.
The consequence is widespread poor oral health. About a quarter of Australian
adults say they avoid some foods because of the condition of their teeth; for
low-income people, it’s about a third.
Low-income people are more likely to have periodontal disease, untreated tooth
decay, or missing teeth.
Bad oral health has painful and costly consequences.
Oral health conditions can contribute to other health problems, including diabetes
and heart disease.
Most oral health conditions are preventable, yet people often end up going to a GP
or hospital emergency department to be treated for conditions that could have been
arrested with earlier care.
Links and References
Filling the gap: A universal dental care scheme for Australia
30.
