Media Releases

Federal Budget “TOOTHLESS” .
Having laid groundwork for the delivery of dental care for children in the previous Budget, it is disappointing that this action has not been accompanied by any further investment in the delivery of dental care to deserving groups in the 2013-14 Federal Budget.

Extra Money But No Extra Teeth for Indigenous Australians .
While the ADA welcomes the additional $777 million announced by the Australian Government for the renewed National Partnership Agreement to “Closing the Gap” in Indigenous disadvantage, it laments the fact that dental health is forgotten.

Commonwealth Asked to Intervene on Fluoride .
The ADA and five other health bodies have come together to promote the benefits of water fluoridation and to oppose the recent decision of Queensland and some other State Governments to permit Local Councils to decide whether or not to add fluoride to their water supplies.

Slap in the Face for Professionals .
The ADA has slammed the Treasurer Wayne Swan’s announcement to limit the tax deductibility for participation in self-education, such as continuing professional development.

'Get DentalAccess Done' - The ADA's Message to the Sydney Public Consultation .
The ADA has outlined its views on dental health policy at the “Better Dental Care” Public Consultation, held in Balmain Town Hall today.

ADA to Australian Youth: 'Keep Your Bites Right' .
The ADA used National Youth Week 2013 to remind the youth of Australia to keep their bites right.

ADA Congratulates Senator the Hon. McLucas' appointment as Minister for Human Services .
The ADA congratulates Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas for her appointment as Minister for Human Services.

Another Example of Private Health Insurers' Focus on Profit .
The ADA has condemned news of private health insurer Westfund employing overseas trained dentists to staff its new dental clinic in MacKay, Queensland, while there is an oversupply of dentists in Australia.

Major Addition to the Scientific Consensus that Fluoridation Improves Everyone's Dental Health .
The ADA notes the latest release of significant research that serves as a major addition to the scientific consensus that drinking fluoridated water is beneficial to all Australians' dental health.

ADA Announces Awards for Excellence in Dental Journalism .
The ADA is proud to announce the recipients of its Excellence in Dental Journalism 2012 Awards.

'Low Sugar' Soft Drinks Still Contain the Same Risk of Tooth Decay .
The ADA welcomes the release of the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Infant Feeding Guidelines, however, warns Australians that limiting their consumption of soft drinks to ‘low-kilojoule’ ones does not go far enough.

STUPIDITY HAS TO STOP - Retain Fluoridation of Water Supplies .
The ADA is outraged and dismayed at Governments' lack of leadership to support the well-established scientific evidence that proves fluoridation of water supplies is safe.

Private Health Insurance Shortchanges Consumers: Another Premium Increase with Minimal Rise in Rebates .
The ADA doubts that the announced increase in premiums for private health insurance will flow onto provide consumers with adequate assistance for the costs of their general treatment services.

Grad Stats Confirm Dentists' Employment Dropping .
The most recent figures from the Graduate Careers Council of Australia confrim what the ADA has been saying: that newly registered dentist numbers are grossly exceeding demand.

Consultation with the Dental Profession Required for Dental Benefits Bill .
Australian dental practitioners have cautiously welcomed the Australian Parliament's passage of the Dental Amendment Bill 2012. The ADA urges the Australian Government to work closely with the dental profession to develop the detail of this dental scheme for children.

ADA Appoints New Federal President .
ADA Inc. has been appointed a new President at the November meeting of Federal Council – Dr Karin Alexander, has become the first female Federal President for the Australian Dental Association.

The Solution to Effective and Sustainable Oral Health Care .
The ADA has issued a media release calling on all members of parliament to listen to the profession about what is required to improve the oral health of all Australians.

Australian Government Must Assist CDDS Patients .
The ADA Calls on the Australian Government to assist the CDDS patients which are unable to complete their course of treatment before 30 November 2012.

Dental Package - As Always, The Devil is in the Detail .
The ADA has expressed its concern for the period given between now and the closure of the CDDS. Many patients already receiving treatment under the CDDS will be unable to complete their course of treatment by the closure date of 30 November 2012.

Australia’s Dentists Welcome Targeted Dental Reform .
The Federal Minister for Health, Hon Tanya Plibersek has announced the closure of the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS) and the Teen Dental Plan, replacing both with a targeted dental scheme focusing on Australia’s youth and disadvantaged Australians.

ADA Congratulates Recipients of Indigenous Dental Student Study Grants for 2012 .
The ADA has announced the winners of the Indigenous Dental Students Study Grants (IDSSG) for 2012. Each Study Grant, comprising of $5,000, has been awarded to Indigenous dental students.

ADA Congratulates Recipients of Rural and Remote Dental Student Study Grants for 2012 .
The ADA has announced the winners of the Rural and Remote Dental Student Study Grants (RRDSSG) for 2012. Each Study Grant, comprising of $5,000, has been awarded to dental students residing in rural and remote parts of Australia.

ADA Congratulates Recipients of Graduate Student Scholarships for 2012 .
The ADA has announced the winners of the Graduate Student Scholarships (GSS) for 2012. Each GSS comprises of $4,000 and is awarded via each Dental School, although each School may choose to nominate one person or several recipients to share the Scholarship.

Dental Workforce Report Demonstrates Shortages are a Myth .
The latest dental workforce figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) support the view of the ADA, that dental workforce shortages are a myth.

Rates of Oral Cancer Increasing .
The ADA is fighting to increase awareness of oral cancer, the risk factors that contribute to it and lifestyle changes that can help reduce a person’s risk of getting oral cancer.

Dentists’ pro bono work acknowledged during National Volunteer Week .
The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) is celebrating National Volunteer Week (NVW) by acknowledging the pro bono work dentists provide the community all over Australia.

Dental Health Investment on the Right Path .
The ADA welcomes the Australian Government's announcement to provide over $500 million expenditure for dental care over the next four years.

AIHW Report Findings Support ADA Call for A Targeted Dental Scheme .
The findings from the National Dental Telephone Interview Survey 2008 that indicate low income earners and concession card holders are most likely to avoid or delay visiting the dentist because of cost proves yet again that Australia needs a targeted and means tested dental scheme to help those people most in need.

ADA congratulates Senator the Hon. Kim Carr's appointment as Minister for Human Services .
Last week the Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard, announced changes to her Cabinet and Ministry.

Dentists Welcome Call for Targeted Dental Scheme .
The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) cautiously welcomes the National Advisory Council on Dental Health’s (Council) report released today.

ADA congratulates Parliamentary Secretary Bradbury's action to compulsorily recall unsafe teeth whiteners .
The Hon. David Bradbury has undertaken action to protect the public by issuing a compulsory recall of do-it-yourself teeth-whiteners that have unsafe concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

AIHW report on children’s oral health confirms the value of oral health promotion .
The ADA was encouraged by the findings of the new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on children’s oral health behaviours. However, it believes there is still a long way to go.

ADA Pre Budget Submission Released .
Today the Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) issued its Pre-Budget Submission to the Treasurer, the Hon. Wayne Swan, as part of the Federal Government 2012-13 Budget process.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR ‘TWO FRONT TEETH’ (AND ALL THE REST) THIS CHRISTMAS .
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Australian Dental Association (ADA) have joined forces to heighten community awareness of the importance of dental care as part of overall personal health and wellbeing.

Universal Dental Schemes not the panacea .
The ADA has cautioned the Government against a universal dental care scheme because it will not adequately address the real dental problems associated with low income and other disadvantaged Australians.

Leave healthcare delivery to the health professionals .
Leave healthcare delivery to the health professionals and focus on your health insurance activities, is the ADA’s advice to health funds.

Senate Supports ADA in calls for Medicare Australia to stop hounding Dentists .
The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) applauds the move by the Senate yesterday calling on the Australian Government to come clean about the unrelenting witch-hunt against dentists.

Motivation for making dentists the scapegoat becomes clear as government tries to meet budget shortfall .
Dr Shane Fryer, President of the ADA says it is clear dentists are being used as a scapegoat by the Government to fill its revenue gaps and achieve a budget surplus by next financial year.

Dental funding must target those in genuine need .
The Greens’ announcement calling for the introduction of their universal dental health scheme, Denticare, is an idea which will not effectively or efficiently provide for those Australians that are in genuine need of quality dental care.

ADA Supports Senate in Call for Details of Medicare Audits .
The ADA welcomes the Senate passing a motion requiring the Federal Government to detail the Medicare audits of dentists who have provided dental care as part of the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS).

International Role for Past President of the Australian Dental Association .
Associate Professor Neil Hewson, Immediate Past President of the ADA has been elected as Speaker of the General Assembly of the FDI World Dental Federation at its annual World Dental Parliament in Mexico City last week.

e-Health record system fails to factor in dentistry .
National Electronic Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) states that the Concept of Operations (ConOps) document provides an overview of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system and how it will work, yet it fails to recognise that healthcare goes beyond medical practice.

ADA supports National Action on Oral Health .
The ADA congratulates Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, and Greens Health Spokesperson, Senator for Victoria, Richard Di Natale on the announcement of a National Advisory Council on Dental Health.

The Wrigley Foundation Provides Oral Health Grants to Fill the Gap for Disadvantaged Australians .
As part of the ADA’s Dental Health Week (August 1 – 7), seven volunteer community groups will receive grants from the ADA and The Wrigley Foundation to support their efforts to improve the dental care of some of Australia’s most deprived and forgotten communities.

ADA questions lack of oral health representation on expert Advisory Council for the Australian National Preventive Health Agency .
The (ADA) today expressed its disappointment over the lack of inclusion of any oral health representation on the newly-announced expert Advisory Council for the Australian National Preventive Health Agency.

ADA Advises Patients to Check Custom-Made Dental Products .
The ADA has today advised patients to ensure that any custom-made dental prostheses and appliances are compliant with the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s requirements by asking their dentist to confirm the origin and regulatory approval status of any such prostheses or appliances.

Federal Budget indicates a commitment to fill dental gaps .
The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) is pleased that the Federal Government has listened to its concerns and has begun to address the workforce numbers and infrastructure problems that exist in the public sector.

NOHA Media Release .
National Oral Health Alliance - Oral health: planning for next year’s Budget must start now

ADA warns not to be complacent about oral health .
Yesterday, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that nearly 4 in 5 Australian adults rated their oral health as good, very good or excellent. However, just over 1 in 5 rated their oral health as poor or fair and many of these Australians fell into categories of low economic status.

New President for the Australian Dental Association .
The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) has elected Dr Shane Fryer as its new Federal President, succeeding Dr Neil Hewson.

ADA Refutes Parliamentary Claims Regarding Dental Courses .
The Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) Federal President Dr Neil Hewson has commented on unfounded statements made in Parliament yesterday by Dr Dennis Jensen MP, from the Electoral Division of Tangney (WA), accusing the Association of controlling enrolments to dental courses.

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.