Open Wide: Oral Health in the Bush
Duration: 87 minutes
Program ID: 816 | Purchase Price: $105.00 (DVD)
Dental caries and periodontal disease are two of the most prevalent - and most preventable - illnesses in Australia. Nearly 50,000 Australians are hospitalised each year for preventable dental conditions. Furthermore, periodontal disease increases the risk of many chronic diseases and complicates their management. While there are a number of oral illnesses, this program focuses particularly on those associated with teeth and gums and examines the impact on general health of untreated dental/periodontal disease.
Oral health is the outcome of a complex interaction of many different influences, including biological, socio-economic, and cultural factors, as well as ready access to appropriate health services. Against this background, the program considers the oral health needs of all age groups, those with special needs, and those with complex, chronic and disabling conditions. It also highlights the particular needs of Indigenous communities.
The program explores the special circumstances faced by people living in rural and remote areas, where the dental workforce shortage is particularly acute. It highlights the need for expanded primary health care services, including preventive approaches to good oral health, and broad-based oral health promotion activities. It looks at strategies to improve access to services in rural and remote Australia, and to refine the referral pathways; it also considers the important role played by other dental health professionals, General Practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals in the areas of prevention and the promotion of good oral health.
Program Presenters
- Chair: Dr Norman Swan - Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National
- Dr Elizabeth Dodd - General Practitioner, Griffith, NSW
- Ms Angela Masoe - Oral Health Programs Coordinator, Greater Southern Area Health Service, NSW
- Ms Debra Parke-Bryant - Dental Hygienist, Mildura, Victoria
- Dr Bruce Simmons - Dentist for more than 30 years in Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- Professor Marc Tennant - Director, Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health, University of WA, Perth
Learning Outcomes
- Recognise oral health as an integral part of general health across the lifespan
- Identify the various types of oral disease, their causes and impact on general health
- Effectively address the oral health needs of special risk groups (such as infants, the chronically ill, the aged, and Indigenous Australians)
- Identify effective strategies for prevention and promotion of good oral health
Broadcast Dates
This program was first broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 16 September 2008.
Funding Bodies
Accreditation
This program is accredited or endorsed for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
