Review of Prosthetists Code - Submission lodged

Key points made in the ADAVB submission in response to the Dental Practice Board of Victoria's review of the code of practice 'Practice of Dentistry by Dental Prosthetists' were:

• The ADAVB supports retention of the current code of practice with a number of clarifying amendments.
  
• Proposals to expand the duties of prosthetists, especially in relation to implant supported removable prostheses are opposed as they would put the public at undue risk.
  
• Dental prosthetists are not qualified to ensure that patients are advised of all reasonable treatment alternatives, prognoses, complications and costs, and therefore informed consent is not possible before agreeing to the provision of a prosthetist’s services. We therefore urge that the Board reinstate the requirement that dental prosthetists must seek a certificate of oral health from an appropriately trained person before treatment is commenced.
  
• Prosthetists should be recognised as part of the dental team referred to in the Auxiliaries Code, and consequently should have an obligation to explain to the patient the importance of seeing a dentist regularly, and of obtaining a certificate of oral health before proceeding with supply of a removable appliance.

Oral Health Alliance lobbies Parliament

The largest and most representative oral health deputation ever seen in Australia descended on Canberra last Tuesday urging the Commonwealth Government to play a coordinating role and ensure that more resources are dedicated to public dental services and preventive programs.

ADAVB representatives participating in the National Oral Health Alliance deputation were President Dr Greg Morris, Vice President Dr Mark Bowman, and Branch CEO Mr Garry Pearson. Federal ADA representatives from Victoria included Dr John Matthews, ADA Inc. President and Dr Neil Hewson, ADA Inc. Vice President.

Briefing sessions and presentations were delivered to the deputation by Health Minister Tony Abbott, Shadow Health Minister Nicola Roxon, and Senators Lyn Allison and Bob Brown from the Democrats and the Greens respectively. The deputation of 85 people representing 35 welfare, community and professional organisations then formed into teams to speak with many MPs from across the political spectrum.

The Alliance recommended these key 'solutions' to the oral health crisis affecting half of Australia's population:
1. The Commonwealth Government should ensure that all people on concession cards have a free basic course of dental care every two years. This preventive health measure would help improve the poor oral health of people on low incomes and lessen the number of tooth extractions and more expensive treatments needed.
2. The Commonwealth Government should provide funding for this initiative through the States and Territories, on the condition that the States and Territories:

• bring their own expenditure up to the new level of Commonwealth funding
• extend water fluoridation to all communities
• ensure that all children and eligible adults receive one course of general oral health care every two years, and ensure that no-one waits longer than 24 hours to receive emergency dental care for swelling, infection, bleeding or serious and persistent pain

3. The Commonwealth should conduct a full national review of the current oral health workforce .

Very favourable responses were provided by MPs representing Labor, the Democrats and the Greens. Mr Abbott was supportive of the third recommendation but declined to involve the Commonwealth Government in a new partnership with the States to address the urgent need for improved oral health measures.

Members will be advised of any further developments arising from this campaign.

ADAVB opposes independent practice by auxiliaries

Responding to the Dental Practice Board of Victoria's draft code of practice on the Practice of Dentistry by Dental Auxiliaries, the ADAVB has described the code as unworkable and warned that members will be advised not to enter into an agreement to consult for auxiliaries unless they are in an employment relationship with them.

The draft code allows auxiliaries to practice independently. Once implemented, Victoria will be the only State in Australia that allows this.

The ADAVB submission and its attached legal advice assert that the draft Code:
• fundamentally changes the relationship between the dentist and auxiliary
• will destroy the dental team which it seeks to promote
• allows and promotes independent practice rights for dental therapists and dental hygienists, and that we believe this will lead to a reduction in the standard of care provided to the community and increased professional indemnity insurance costs
• proposes a mechanism by which dentists would be held accountable for treatment outcomes achieved by auxiliaries, but that this mechanism is not defined, and therefore would be legally invalid once challenged
• sets out to offer guidance on standards of practice but leaves the question of what dental auxiliaries can or can’t do almost entirely up to them or to educational institutions
• has the potential to result in supervised neglect of patients by not requiring that they undergo a regular and comprehensive examination by a dentist and encouraging dental therapists and hygienists to consider themselves the primary dental care providers
• allows and encourages educational institutions to determine the duties of auxiliaries leading to them becoming indistinguishable from dentists

The full submission can be viewed here.

Bottled water and fluoride

The ADA Inc has issued a media release supporting fluoride in bottled water.