National Oral Health Plan - Australian Dental Association

Action Area One - Promoting Oral Health across the Population
care at no out-of-pocket expense to the member.
These schemes demonstrate the potential for a
"third way" for the provision of quality costeffective
dental care with a strong preventive
focus, which will be of particular benefit to those
on low and middle incomes.
Dental therapists and dental hygienists contribute
to the provision of quality care as members of
dental teams, but are mainly employed in the
public sector. There is considerable scope for
reducing the direct costs of dental treatment to
patients through greater utilisation of dental
auxiliaries.
Promoting oral health: Health promotion seeks
to improve or protect oral health through activities
that include behavioural, socio-economic,
environmental and policy change (WHO 1984).
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion identifies
key spheres of action: building healthy public
policy and emphasising the role of all sectors in
health outcomes; creating supportive environments
across living, working and recreational settings;
strengthening community action; developing
personal skills; and reorienting health services to
increase the focus on prevention and early
intervention. Oral health promotion should be part
of health promotion plans at local, State and
Territory, and national levels. This requires broad
agreement on a consistent suite of evidence-based
oral health promotion messages.
Common risk factor approach: Oral diseases
share common risk factors with all diseases
targeted as National Health Priorities. In particular,
inappropriate diet, tobacco smoking, alcohol
consumption, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation
(ie. the sun and/or sun beds) are leading causes of
tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer (Spencer
2001). An integrated, cross-sectoral approach to
address common risk factors and promote
protective factors could achieve significant
improvements in oral and general health (Task
Group on Health Promotion for Oral Health 2000).
Advocacy: Oral health providers need to take a
strong advocacy role at local, regional and national
levels, to ensure that oral health is an integral part
of health promotion and common risk factor
initiatives. At the same time, oral health
practitioners should be active participants in
general health promotion programs. The American
Surgeon General identifies as a priority the need to
change public, policy makers’ and health providers’
perceptions so that oral health becomes an accepted
part of general health (US Department of Health
and Human Services 2000).
Data: Accurate and up-to-date data on the
prevalence of major oral diseases are basic to the
planning and evaluation of personal and population
health interventions, and the effective and equitable
use of resources. Australia’s only National Oral
Health Survey was in 1987-88.
Who will be involved?
▫ Commonwealth, State & Territory, and local
governments
▫ Professional bodies and associations
▫ Oral health practitioners
▫ Non-government organisations
▫ Patients and carers
▫ Food industry
▫ GPs and other primary medical care providers
▫ Pharmacists
▫ Nutritionists
▫ Aged care providers
▫ Community services
▫ The media
▫ Employer bodies and workplaces
▫ Water authorities
▫ Consumer groups
Where will it happen?
▫ A range of community settings
▫ Health care facilities
▫ Education settings
▫ Workplaces
Linked initiatives
▫ National Health Priority Plans
▫ National Public Health Partnership
▫ Nutritional promotions
▫ The Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical
Activity (SNAP) Risk Factor Framework for
General Practice
▫ Public Health Education and Research
Program (PHERP)
National Oral Health Plan
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