The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has noted the latest release of significant research that serves to reinforce scientific consensus that drinking fluoridated water is beneficial to all Australians' dental health. The release of the article, 'Effects of Fluoridated Drinking Water on Dental Caries in Australian Adults' in the Journal of Dental Research shows that Australian adults with a >75 per cent lifetime exposure to water fluoridation have significantly reduced caries experience when compared with those with a <25 per cent lifetime exposure.

To read more go to Bite magazine, or the Journal of Dental Research.

The annual report of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Boards has been published, and it shows the dental profession is the second-fastest growing medical profession (behind physiotherapists). AHPRA estimates that Dentists, dental specialists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists and dental prosthetists, who make up the dental profession, increased … READ MORE

Children's oral health is associated with the oral health of their parents and their family circumstances according to Families and their oral health, a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

A second report, Chronic conditions and oral health, also released today by the AIHW, shows that people with chronic conditions and diseases were more likely than those without to have poor dental health.

The Families and their oral health report, based on 2010 survey data, shows that around 17 per cent of Australian children experienced an 'oral health impact' in the previous 12 months - either toothache or avoiding some foods because of oral problems.

Read the whole article.

A new report from Queensland's independent health watchdog shows dental complaints could be reduced if more dental practitioners adhered to existing standards, policies and guidelines. The report, Teething problems - a spotlight report on complaints about dental care in Queensland explores what patients, families and carers have told the Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC).

The HQCC received 855 dental complaints between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2011, accounting for 12% of all of the healthcare complaints they received in the same period.

The most frequently reported concern in complaints about dental care was treatment (accounting for 80% of complaints), followed by communication and information; fees, costs and rebates, access and environment/facility management.

Dental treatment complaints cited concerns about inappropriate/inadequate and unsuccessful treatment, unexpected treatment outcomes and complications, inadequate prosthetic equipment (most frequently ill-fitting or faulty dentures), ineffective coordination of dental treatment and diagnosis problems.

• 80 per cent of dental complaints were about treatment.
• 78 per cent of dental complaints were about private sector dental services.
• 75 per cent of complaints about dental services were about dental care provided in private group or sole practices.
• 88 per cent of complaints identifying an individual practitioner were about dentists, followed by dental prosthetists with 8 per cent.
• 15.5 per cent of complaints were about dental care provided under the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme or the Medicare Teen Dental Plan.
• 16 dental practitioners received four or more complaints between 2009 and 2011.