The Medical Journal of Australia
Episode 536: MJA Podcasts 2023 Episode 30: improving access to dental care for Australia’s children to diminish the burden of disease, with Professor Sharon Goldfeld and Dr Mihiri Silva
Oct 29, 2023
Professor Sharon Goldfeld and Dr. Mihiri Silva discuss the urgent need to improve access to dental care for Australia's children. They address the high prevalence of tooth decay, inequities in dental health, and the importance of preventive dental care. Recommendations include integrating dental care into healthcare systems and implementing public health policies like fluoride in water and sugar taxes.
16:41
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Social disparities in dental caries persist between rural and metropolitan areas in Australia, necessitating an equity-focused approach to address tooth decay.
- Tooth decay in children contributes to preventable hospitalizations, impacting nutrition, growth, and development, underscoring the need for improved access to early dental care.
Deep dives
Prevalence and Inequity of Tooth Decay in Australian Children
Tooth decay affects about a third of Australian children by the time they start school, with prevalence increasing as they grow older. Professor Sharon Goldfeld highlights the social disparities in dental caries, emphasizing differences between rural and metropolitan areas and priority population groups. She discusses the importance of addressing tooth decay as a preventable and inequitably distributed chronic disease, stressing the need for solutions with an equity lens.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
