Media Releases

DENTAL HEALTH ON THE RADAR – AT LAST .
“Finally someone is listening to the pleas for attention to be given to dental health delivery to disadvantaged Australians. The ALP/Greens statement indicating that attention will be given to improve federal funding for dental care is well overdue.

ADA’S ‘DENTAL CHECK-UP’ ON POLITICAL PARTIES .
The major political parties have finally provided some clarity on their proposed dental healthpolicies. The deafening silence has ceased. The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) requested parties respond to the Association’s 10 questions on dental health policy to be collated into an Election Report Card.

POLITICAL PARTIES REMAIN TIGHT LIPPED ON DENTAL IN LEAD UP TO THE ELECTION .
With only weeks to go until the 2010 Federal Election, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) is urging political parties to take action for the one-third of Australians (approximately seven million) who canno taccess basic dental care by speaking out on dental policy.

The ADA Places Dental Care for Disadvantaged Australians on the Election Agenda .
The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) hopes debate taking place in the lead up to the Election will produce some effective outcomes relating to dental care delivery in Australia.

ADA Inc. Rural and Remote and Aborigional Study Grants Announced .
Dr Neil Hewson, Federal President of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) today announced, as part of its student support program, the recipients of four dental study grants, of $5,000 each, to students who reside in rural/remote areas of Australia, along with five grants of $2,000 each for aboriginal dental students.

Dentists Made the Scapegoat for Games in Parliament? .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) Federal President Dr Neil Hewson commenting on today’s press reports of dentists exploiting the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme for those with chronic illnesses said “Let’s get a few facts straight and stop blaming dentists for the failures of a poor scheme”.

Dental X-rays and Thyroid Cancer .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) would like to advise that there is little cause for patients to be concerned in relation to recent media reports as to a possible relationship between dental X rays and the risk of thyroid cancer.

World No Tobacco Day - No Butts .
The 31st of May each year is World No Tobacco Day. This day highlights the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocates for effective policies to reduce consumption. Tobacco use is the second highest cause of death globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. Furthermore, smoking is a major cause of cancers in the mouth. It is, with alcohol, the biggest risk factors.

ADA Calls for Parliament to give Dental Policy Urgent Attention .
Health may be a big winner in the recent Federal Budget, however, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) is concerned that dental health has been ignored. This is the third year in a row that, sadly, the measures simply do nothing to assist many disadvantaged Australians who require urgent dental attention.

Brotherhood of St. Lawrence's Solution Misses the Target .
Dr Neil Hewson, President of the Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) says that the Brotherhood of St Lawrence’s call yesterday for reform to dental delivery in Australia is most timely and the Brotherhood should be congratulated on its efforts.

Blow Out in Costs of Dental Scheme by Dentists and GPs Inaccurate .
“Reports in the media attributing the blow out in costs of the Commonwealth Dental Scheme to dentists and general practitioners are inaccurate. The popularity and extensive adoption of the Scheme demonstrates the extent of unmet need that exists in the community,” Dr Neil Hewson, President of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) said today. “The ADA has alerted Governments, State and Federal, of the unmet need for care that exists, and has repeatedly called on them to improve dental care access to the disadvantaged.”

Winter Games A Timely Reminder to Guard Your Mouth .
The Australian Dental Association Inc is pleased to see that some athletes at Vancouver are clearly using mouth guards. However, this has not always been the case. Based on previous Winter Olympic Games, dentists can expect well over 100 trauma cases involving Olympians damaging their teeth, lips, cheeks, tongues and broken bones.

ADA Calls for Urgent Solutions to Provide Equitable Access to Dental Care in 2010 Pre-Budget Submission .
The Australian Dental Association’s Pre-Budget Submission identifies areas where investment by the Commonwealth Government would lead to significant improvements in oral health for many in need within the Australian community.

ADA Calls for a National Advertisement Campaign to Educate Parents About Dental Hygiene .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) is calling for TV advertising campaigns, similar to those for smoking and skin cancer, to warn about the dangers of tooth decay and gum disease. The need for this measure follows the release of new figures which indicate that there is a current ‘epidemic’ of child tooth decay in Australia.

ADA supports the National Preventative Health Agency Bill 2009 .
The Australian Dental Association supports the Federal Government’s initiative to introduce the Australian National Preventative Health Agency which will report directly to the Minister of Heath, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP. This initiative follows the introduction of the Australian National Preventative Health Agency Bill 2009.

Magistrate Rules Against Beauty Therapist in Tooth Whitening Case .
The ADA believes that the outcome of a court preceding that convicted a beauty therapist for harm caused as a result of tooth whitening is a victory for patient safety.

Know the Facts about Tongue and Lip Piercing .
Recent media reports on complications following people undergoing oral piercings highlight the concerns of dentists on the dangers associated with such procedures.

ADA Welcomes National Preventative Health Strategy .
Dr Neil Hewson, Federal President of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) today welcomed the measures proposed in the National Preventative Health Strategy which will have beneficial impact on dental disease.

Product Risk or Sensationalism? .
"Contrary to the comments made in the press lately suggesting dentists are compromising the health of their patients, the public can be assured that the practice of dentistry in Australia is among the best in the world. One of the most important concerns for dentists in Australia and the ADA is the safety and health of patients."

Africa to Take The Lead in Integrating Oral Health into Chronic Diseases Programmes .
Africa will be the first region of the world to take tangible action in integrating oral health into other chronic disease programmes.

The National Oral Health Alliance - Moving In The Right Direction .
The National Oral Health Alliance, of which ADA is a member, has today welcomed the commitment by the ALP to re-introduce the Commonwealth Dental Health Program but has called for greater investment over time.

Dentists in rural areas are too thinly spread .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) calls on the Federal Government to address the maldistribution of the current dental workforce which is negatively impacting on the delivery of services in areas of need such as in rural, regional and remote parts of Australia.

Increase in the EPC Scheme welcomed .
Following Minister Abbott’s announcement today, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) welcomes the Federal Government’s recognition of the role they must play in the improvement of oral health delivery to needy Australians.

Support for piercings bill .
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) supports a plan to come before the Victorian Parliament which would ban people under the age of 18 from having any part of their body pierced without the written consent of their parents or guardian.

The dangers of not wearing a mouthguard .
After seeing a recent report that an Australian rugby league player’s tooth was found embedded in his opponent’s head, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) stresses the importance of wearing a mouthguard for anyone who participates in a sport that carries a risk of a knock to the face.

No Mouthguard – No Play! Don’t leave home without one. .
“There are far too many unnecessary, serious and permanent injuries to teeth because a mouthguard hasn’t been used or fitted correctly,” Chairman of the Oral Health Committee of the Australian Dental Association, Dr Derek Lewis, said today.