Australia Day Honours for dentists

Three dentists have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours.


Collins Street GP Dr George Luk received the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM) for services to the Polish community.

South Australian Dr Lawrence Smart was admitted as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to dentistry in the field of clinical orthodontics, through cleft lip and palate treatment and craniofacial surgery.  Dr Smart served as ADA SA Branch President in 1965.

Dr Rhys Thomas RFD, received a Public Service Medal "For outstanding public service to the Queensland community through the provision of public oral health services."  Amongst other service, Dr Thomas was Chief Dental Officer with Queensland Health until his retirement in July 2014.

Updated privacy guide - Reasonable Steps

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released an updated Guide to securing personal information: Reasonable steps to protect personal information.

They advise that the ‘Guide to securing personal information’ (Guide) provides guidance on the reasonable steps entities are required to take under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) to protect the personal information they hold from misuse, interference, loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. It also includes guidance on the reasonable steps entities are required to take to destroy or de-identify personal information that they hold once it is no longer needed (unless an exception applies)."

Given that dental practices maintain health records, and these are considered 'sensitive' under the Privacy Act, special care is required to observe the Australian Privacy Principles.    

While the guide is not legally binding, the OAIC recommends it as a model for better personal information security practice. They also note that "the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) will refer to this guide when undertaking its Privacy Act functions,
including when investigating whether an entity has complied with its personal information security obligations (s 40) or when undertaking an assessment (s 33C)."

Environment / behaviour more important than genes for health

According to a study of twins conducted by Stanford University School of Medicine investigators led by Dr Mark Davis PhD (pictured), our environment, more than our heredity, plays the starring role in determining the state of our immune system, the body’s primary defense against disease. This is especially true as we age, the study indicates.

"Examining differences in the levels and activity states of these components within pairs of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, the Stanford scientists found that in three-quarters of the measurements, nonheritable influences — such as previous microbial or toxic exposures, vaccinations, diet and dental hygiene — trumped heritable ones when it came to accounting for differences within a pair of twins. This environmental dominance was more pronounced in older identical twins (age 60 and up) than in younger twins (under age 20)." (emphasis added)

The relationship between good oral health and good general health is once again emphasised.

Video challenges Aboriginal community to ‘rethink’ soft drink consumption

An innovative video has been launched to address the serious issue of sugary drink consumption within Victorian Aboriginal communities.

Rethink Sugary Drink and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc. have partnered to highlight the significant health problems associated with sugary drink consumption and to encourage Victorian Aboriginal community members to reduce their intake of sugary drinks.

VACCHO’s Acting CEO Louise Lyons says that about two thirds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are overweight or obese, with many Aboriginal people having to manage serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Others, including children, are also being treated for serious dental problems.

A table shows how much sugar is in popular drink brands.

The Australian Dental Association supports the Rethink Sugary Drink campaign.

What are sugary drinks doing to your body?

Continuing to raise awareness of the risks of sugary drink consumption, the Rethink Sugary Drink Campaign has produced a new poster (part of which is shown here) highlighting the effects of sugary drinks on the body. For instance, drinking one can of soft drink a day can lead to 6.5kg of weight gain in one year.  From a dental health perspective, sugar and acid levels in sugary drinks can cause tooth decay.  Even 'diet' drinks contain acid that damages your teeth.

The campaign stresses the amount of sugar in sweetened beverages, such as soft drink, energy drinks and sports drinks, and hopes to encourage Australians to drink water, reduced-fat milk or unsweetened options.

It is being coordinated by the Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia and the National Heart Foundation, and is supported by the ADAVB and ADA Inc.

Athletes highlight risks of drinking sugary drinks

Athletes are supporting a campaign which asks people to replace sugary drinks with water for 30 days.

The Melbourne Stars Big Bash League team, Melbourne City Football Club and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race are backing the H30 Challenge.

VicHealth’s campaign aims to help establish healthier habits with water becoming the main choice of beverage in the long-term.