The Victorian Government is being urged to provide oral health services to nursing home residents.
In a Budget submission to the State Government, the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch says that there is good evidence that improved oral hygiene and frequent professional oral health care reduces the progression or occurrence of various diseases among high-risk elderly people living in nursing homes, especially those in intensive care units.

The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) today welcomed an Australia-wide survey, which found that children living in areas where drinking water is naturally or artificially fluoridated had better dental health than those from areas where drinking water contained little or no fluoride. 
The survey found that differences in dental health levels between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas were as high as 66 per cent for seven-year-old Australian children. The report, Water fluoridation and children’s dental health – The Child Dental Health Survey – was prepared for the Federal Government’s Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 

The data covered more than 135,000 children, nationally with the exception of NSW. ADAVB President Dr Mark Bowman said the report reaffirmed what many other reports had shown – fluoridated water is the most effective way to prevent dental decay. He said the survey showed that water fluoridation benefited all children, no matter where they lived or their families’ socio-economic status. “This report provides Australian evidence on the benefits of children having access to fluoridated water,” he said. “The release is timely and should help quell debates in some parts of regional Victoria on the merits of water fluoridation. 
People opposed to fluoridated water should note this data was gathered from a very large sample across Australia. The survey results reinforce worldwide research and scientific facts relating to the benefits of water fluoridation. “Parents should take heart from this survey as it shows that there are real benefits for their children drinking fluoridated water.” But Dr Bowman stressed that parents should not rely on fluoridated water to help prevent tooth decay – brushing teeth at least twice a day, flossing and rinsing with a mouthwash appropriate for children, as well as adhering to a healthy diet is necessary along with regular check-ups by dentists.

The waiting times at almost half of Victoria’s public dental facilities have increased, the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch claimed today. These figures reverse some of the improvements announced by the State Government last year.

Following the loss of a front tooth by Essendon player Jason Laycock in an AFL game against Hawthorn on Saturday 5 May, the ADAVB and Sports Medicine Australia issued a joint release promoting the use of professionally fitted mouthguards.

The President of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB), Dr Greg Morris, has warmly welcomed the Australian Labor Party’s (ALP) dental policy package announced today by the Victorian Premier Steve Bracks. A new dental course at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus plus new dental teaching clinics in Wodonga, Mildura and Melton will be implemented as part of the initiative.

ADAVB welcomed the State Government’s initiative for schoolchildren to enjoy healthy canteen food.

Many Melbourne residents are facing dental waiting times of more than three years.

A list of regional towns where waiting times for general public dental care exceed more than 36 months.

The dental profession welcomed moves by the Victorian Government to ban high calorie and high sugar soft drinks from Government school canteens and vending machines.

Dental waiting times in rural Victoria.

An American style university system could impact on the well being of Australians.

The new land tax is likely to increase dental fees, Australian Dental Association’s Victorian Branch (ADAVB) President, Dr Chris Callahan said.

With baby boomer dentists starting to leave the profession, there is an urgent need to fund Victorian dental students, the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) stated.

Frankston, Footscray and Fitzroy have the longest waiting times for public dental treatment in Melbourne –more than three years.

The protection of the health and safety of Victorians requires independent registration boards regulating health professions, Dr Suzanne Hanlin, President of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB), said.

Quit Victoria has developed a new video training package for oral health professionals, which demonstrates the use of the 5As framework in daily practice.

Over summer, people should be watching their intake of soft drinks and sports drinks, according to the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch.

An alliance of consumer, welfare and professional bodies has collaborated to deliver a ‘report card’ that indicates none of the major political parties are sufficiently committed to addressing the urgent, declining status of Australians’ oral health.

Report card on Federal oral health policies.

Oral cancers currently account for up to 6.5 per cent of all cancers diagnosed in Australia1. More Australians die from oral cancer than cervical cancer each year.

The Australian Dental Association Victorian branch (ADAVB) is urging the Australian public to pay more attention to their oral health when visiting their dentist.

The Australia Dental Association, Victorian Branch (ADAVB) is anxious to dispel the myths and misinformation that have been communicated to the public since a horrific incident involving Essendon’s Dustin Fletcher recently.

The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) commends the announcement by the State Government of additional funding towards dental health care, bringing a total commitment of $97.2 million for Victorians over four years.

Dr. Vlad Hardi, President of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Dental Association (ADAVB) today warmly welcomed the announcement by the State Government that it will substantially increase funding for public dental services, with the anticipation that dental waiting lists will be significantly reduced as a result of the additional funding.

The Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) has raised concerns about the recent popularity of ‘reality’ television that focuses on ‘quick-fix cosmetic’ makeovers.

A baby’s primary teeth, also known as baby teeth or deciduous teeth, begin to form 5 weeks after conception.

Dr. Vlad Hardi, President of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Dental Association (ADAVB) today welcomed the announcement by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Trish Worth, that the Commonwealth Government will require cigarette packaging to carry graphic warnings of the disease consequences of smoking, including oral cancers.

Dr. Vlad Hardi, President of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Dental Association (ADAVB) today welcomed the announcement by Victorian Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, that the State Government will invest a small sum in streamlining the system of waiting lists for public dental services ...

Children playing sports without mouthguards run a huge risk of traumatic facial injuries, according to the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch [ADAVB].

The Australian Dental Association (ADAVB) is warning parents and children that the correlation between diet and obesity also impacts directly upon the status of our teeth and oral health.

Australia’s Health 2002 showed a worrying increase in obesity amongst Australian children ...

The Australian Dental Association (ADAVB) has warned the public on a number of occasions about dangers associated with tongue piercing, although the practice appears to be increasingly popular. Regrettably, tongue splitting has now emerged as another oral health risk.

Dr. Vlad Hardi, President of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Dental Association (ADAVB) today welcomed the announcement by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Trish Worth, that the Commonwealth Government will require cigarette packaging to carry graphic warnings of the disease consequences of smoking, including oral cancers.

DHSV advises in their 2001/02 Annual Report that there are now 218,952 people on dental waiting lists in Victoria as at June 2002, an increase of 35,000 over June 2001.