‘Where to from here? The impact of COVID-19 on oral health in Victoria’ was a webinar hosted by VOHA on 7 Aug 2019.
The Victorian Oral Health Alliance hosted a webinar during Dental Health Week, highlighting some of the key issues COVID-19 has and will have on Victorians oral health. Chaired by Mr Tony McBride, the panel was consisted of:
- Dr Dushy Umakhanthan, Senior Dentist from Starhealth
- Associate Professor Mathew Hopcraft, CEO of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch
- Ms Emma King, CEO of the Victorian Council of Social Services
- Professor Julie Satur, Head of Oral Health Therapy from the University of Melbourne
- Mr Danny Vadasz, CEO of Health Issue Centre
Highlights from the webinar noted the following key issues:
- Dentistry is seen to be a high-risk for COVID-19 transmission
- Dental restrictions to dental practice to many only urgent care have meant people are delaying necessary dental care
- Further delays in dental care will result in increasing long waiting lists in the Victorian public sector before COVID-19
- For example, Starhealth have seen increased adult general waiting lists by 125% and denture waiting periods by at least 500%
- Increasing unemployment due to COVID-19 will result in more eligible Victorians being able to access public dental care
- Many more Victorian cannot afford to seek timely preventive dental care
- In general, Medicare does not fund oral health
- Poor oral health are risk factors for poor general health
- Dental and oral health students can no longer see patients due to dental restrictions
- Lost opportunities to develop interprofessional practice and experience outreach program to reach vulnerable populations
- Despite cessation of dental practice by students, their competence would need to be the same for graduation
- Noted the concerns of a large proportion of COVID-19 transmission is among healthcare workers
- Lack of consumer engagement and consultation throughout COVID-19 has created missed opportunities for a strong community response to the pandemic
Despite pressures of COVID-19 to provide necessary dental care, there is potential to shift how dental care is provided, including:
Stronger focus on prevention and minimally invasive dentistry
Use of telehealth to offer dental services
- Strengthen infection control measures beyond COVID-19
- Trial and receive feedback from consumers regarding different ways to deliver dental care such as remote dental emergency triaging and offering preventive oral health advice
- Local communities and organisations have responded to meeting the needs of vulnerable communities affected by COVID-19 such as residents living in high-rise housing estates.
- Stop relying on data to offer practical solutions
- Leverage consumer voices and generate stories to influence governments and politicians
Victorian Oral Health Alliance 