The shocking facts:
- On average older Australians over 65 are missing 14 teeth.
- Around one-quarter avoid eating some foods due to problems with their teeth or mouth.
- 1 in 6 Australians are over 65 years old, and this figure is expected to double by 2062.
These urgent issues need targeted and sustainable funding to meet the dental needs of this most vulnerable cohort, with the Australian Dental Association declaring for the election: It’s Time To Act.
“The upcoming federal election represents a great opportunity for Anthony Albanese to commit to a dental scheme for seniors, the ADA’s Seniors Dental Benefits Schedule (SDBS), which would provide a capped maximum of $1,132 worth of free dental care for qualifying seniors every two years,” said ADA President Dr Chris Sanzaro.
“We know that regular trips to the dentist allow problems to be treated early – saving individuals from having more costly and lengthy dental visits further down the track. The SDBS would make this a reality for millions of older Australians.”
The ADA has been urging successive Federal Governments to fund this affordable scheme, calculated by the Parliamentary Budget Office to cost $1.143bn a year in 2025-26 for 2.8m eligible seniors (and $1.263 billion in 2026-27).
“To provide dental services to every Australian would cost over $5.6bn2 a year and no government has ever been able to take this on. So the SDBS is the affordable option,” said Dr Sanzaro.
For the election the ADA is urging the major parties to:
- commit to implementing the Seniors’ Dental Benefits Schedule for holders of Commonwealth seniors’ health cards, pensioner concession cards and health care cards who are 65 years or older, and
- integrate oral health assessments for over 75s into relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule GP health checks.
Consumer organisations reported to the 2024 Senate Inquiry into the Provision of and Access to Dental Care, that lack of access to affordable dental treatment is a significant source of distress amongst Australia’s elderly, particularly pensioners and part-pensioners who can’t afford private health insurance with its restrictions on rebates, qualifying periods and exclusions.
“As the federal election nears, the ADA is reminding politicians that oral health should be a national priority. Implementing a seniors’ dental scheme represents a crucial step toward equitable healthcare, ensuring that older Australians receive comprehensive care so vital for their overall health and well-being.
“Unlike Medicare which covers GP and hospital related services, the mouth is seen by the government as separate to the rest of the body.
“So a complete overhaul of the way dentistry for older Australians is funded is long overdue, particularly for seniors with little or no income in the current cost of living crisis.”
