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Oral health
Our dental needs have changed significantly over the last 30 years. These days more older Australians are retaining their natural teeth.
But tooth decay is still the most common health condition in Australia.
Tooth loss is not an inevitable part of ageing. Today, treatment concentrates on prevention of dental disease. This means that you can keep your teeth for life, and they no longer need to have large unsightly fillings.
Tips on how to maintain your dental health:
- Visit your dentist at recommended intervals that suit your dental condition and age, to screen for dental disease and more serious diseases of the mouth.
- Tell your dentist about any general health problems and any medication you are taking as this may affect your dental health and treatment.
- Brush you teeth at least twice a day, especially after meals and use dental floss between the teeth to remove plaque which causes gum disease.
- In addition to using a fluoride toothpaste, your dentist may be able to recommend a special toothpaste for sensitive areas on your teeth.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and avoid sweet food and drink between meals.
- If you have full dentures, clean your mouth and dentures thoroughly each day and have both checked by your dentist every few years.
Dental care services
Under the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme, Medicare dental items are available for people with chronic conditions and complex care needs, on referral from a GP. Chronic medical conditions can include diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer and kidney disease, or one or more of a whole range of illnesses. In addition, the conditions must be present, or are likely to be present for at least six months.The Australian Government provides support for private allied health services through the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) items in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
To be eligible for allied health services under Medicare, patients must have a chronic (or terminal) medical condition and complex care needs that are being managed by their GP under a GP Management Plan (MBS item 721) and Team Care Arrangements (MBS item 723), or, for permanent residents of an aged care facility, their GP must have contributed to a multidisciplinary care plan prepared for them by the aged care facility (MBS item 731). Once these items are in place, patients are able to be referred by their GP for up to five Medicare rebateable allied health services each calendar year. Eligible allied health services are: Aboriginal health work, audiology, chiropractic, diabetes education, dietetics, exercise physiology, mental health work, occupational therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, and speech pathology.
In addition to the allied health items, patients who are being managed under these care planning items and whose oral health is impacting on their general health, may also be eligible to access certain dental services under Medicare.
Further information about these items can be found at Dental Care Services
For more information on: Chronic Disease Management and allied health items please see or ask your GP.