Maintaining good oral hygiene and going to the dentist regularly are two easy ways to avoid gum disease and keep your teeth in good nick. But as with most services, the cost, the waiting times and even the trip to and from the dentist takes more planning and preparation when you live with disability or care for someone with a chronic health condition.
Roughly only half of Australians under 65 who have disability have seen a dentist in the past year. That’s about 1.2 million people. Why is that? Well, there are the barriers we’ve already mentioned. There’s also a shortage of dental health professionals with the skills to care for patients with disability.
These barriers are beyond frustrating, especially considering that people who live with disability tend to be more vulnerable to oral disease.
Dental care is all the more important because:
- medications can dry the mouth
- sticking to a good at home care routine can be difficult
- swallowing may be hard or uncomfortable
- not being able to physically brush or floss means relying on others.
Seeing a dentist can minimise the impact of all these factors. We also now know that good dental hygiene is linked to overall health.
Whether you have disability or care for someone who does, this guide is all about dentists and disability. We’ll be talking about:
- how to find dental care
- preparing for your dental appointment
- what to expect during the appointment (based on what we do here at Keppel Dental)
- how you can access affordable dental care in Australia.
Our aim is to cover as much information as we can and help you get to a dentist.
Dentists specialising in care for patients with disability
After they become qualified, dentists can specialise in a particular area of dentistry. Orthodontist, dental surgeon and paediatric dentist are a few examples of dental specialisations. And so is becoming a special needs dentist (SND).
While we understand the term ‘special needs’ isn’t appropriate language, ‘special needs dentist’ is what you’ll need to type into Google if you’re looking for a dental professional specifically trained to treat patients with a physical, mental or learning disability.
Admittedly, there’s a shortage of dentists in Australia who specialise in this field. (Apparently there are only 25 in the entire country.) As a result, most dentists in Australia can treat patients with disability. However, their ability to treat you may depend on a few things.
To successfully treat patients with disability, the practice must be equipped to meet their needs. For example, patients with high-level anxiety or severe autism, or who need a hoist to help them into the treatment chair, will need to check whether dental professionals within the practice can help as needed.
If the practice can’t meet the patient’s specific needs, the patient will be referred.
How to find a dentist
Finding a dentist is the first step. You might search the internet by typing in your suburb, town or city followed by ‘dentist’ or ‘special needs dentist’. Visit the website of any practices you like the look of. And read any reviews you find to get a feel for whether any of the practices are right for you.
You could also ask friends, family, neighbours or carers about their dentist. What’s the name of their dentist? Did they have a positive experience when they went in for treatment? If they did, you might want to contact the practice to see if you can register as a new patient.
If you know the treatment can’t be performed in the dental chair, or that you’ll need a general anaesthetic, you may need to be treated at a dental hospital (or search for ‘community dentists’). Sadly, the waiting lists mean you—or the person you care for—may have to wait years for an appointment.
What a dentist needs to know before providing care
To get the care you need, it’s important to give your dentist as much information as possible about your disability, your medical history, and any medication you’re currently taking.
You may also want to let them know about any support or care plans you have in place. This will help them create your personalised dental care plan, and prepare their treatment room for your appointment. (For example, they can bring in an extra chair if a carer is with you, or try to keep light or noise to a minimum if you’re sensitive to either.)
When you register as a new patient you’ll also be asked for:
- your doctor’s details
- the details of any specialists or health care professionals you’re working with
- your Medicare card details
- your health fund details (if you have one)
- any concessions you’re entitled to.
These are all routine questions for new patients.
Planning your appointment and your trip to the dentist
Patients who have positive experiences will keep coming back. And so your practitioner will do all they can to keep you as calm and comfortable as possible when you’re with them. But there are steps you can take when arranging your appointment to make the experience as smooth as possible.
Here are some things to consider.
- The day you book your appointment for. If you have routines, appointments and prior commitments on particular days, organise your dental appointment for a day when you’re less busy.
- The time of day you come in. Medication times (and how they affect you) and your general energy levels may influence whether to book a morning or afternoon appointment. If you experience anxiety, making your appointment time as early as possible is a good idea. This way it’s over and done with early, and will have less of an impact on the rest of your day.
- Items you might want to bring. You may want to bring sunglasses (if you don’t like bright lights), headphones (if you’re sensitive to sounds), or even something you can hold to comfort you. Your dentist should be able to accommodate all of these during your appointment.
- Parking, practice access, and assistance to get there. If the practice’s website doesn’t mention access for wheelchairs or mobility aids, call for clarification. If you don’t (or can’t) drive, or need help getting from a vehicle into the practice you’ll need to either organise this or let the dental practice know. They may be able to help.
At Keppel Dental we can organise a taxi and assistance service on your behalf to help you get here. Just let the receptionist know you’d like this service when you book your appointment.
What to expect during your appointment
What you can expect during your dental appointment will depend on:
- the practice you’re being treated at
- what you’re seeing the dentist for
- your disability, and the level of support you need.
With so many variables, we can’t tell you exactly what to expect during a dental appointment when you have disability. But speaking from our own experience, here’s what tends to happen.
- On the day of your appointment, arrive 15 minutes before you’re due to see the dentist. Thiswill give you (or your carer) time to complete a new patient form. (Our reception staff are also on hand to help if needed.)
- When it’s time for the appointment, your dentist (and sometimes the dental assistant), will meet you in the waiting room for a chat if you (or they) feel it will help you relax. When you’re ready, you’ll be invited to come to the treatment room.
- The treatment room will be set up to accommodate your needs. For example, we’ll turn the lights down as low as possible to decrease stimulation. We may also play music to help you relax. And if you need someone to stay with you during the exam, we’ll have a space for them next to the treatment chair.
- Once you’re lying back in the chair, the dentist will ask to look inside your mouth using a small mouth mirror. They’ll count your teeth, and check for tooth and gum disease.
- Next, the dentist may take a few quick x-rays of your teeth, jaws and gums. This helps us identify any oral diseases we can’t detect just by looking.
- At this point we’ll take a break and speak with you about the condition of your teeth and gums, and any treatment you need. If we can do the treatment right away (e.g. giving your teeth a clean, fixing a tooth with a filling), we’ll get on with it. But if we find something like a tooth that needs removing, we may ask you to book an appointment for another day. We’ll discuss all of this with you as we create your personal treatment plan.
And that’s basically it. At the end of the appointment, you’ll be taken back to the reception area where our staff will help you settle any costs and book your next appointment.
Dental care costs
Almost 28% of Australian adults under 65 with disability cite cost as the main reason for not seeing a dentist or delaying their oral health care. Cost is a major barrier for many Australians. Unfortunately, until it’s fully or partly covered by Medicare (which we strongly believe should happen) we can’t see that changing any time soon.
What we can do in the meantime is:
- help you understand the average cost to see a dentist in Australia, which may help you plan and budget before your appointment
- highlight any benefits or grants you may be able to access as a person with disability
- let you know about some great dental care initiatives that are working to cut dental care waiting time for those who rely on the public health system.
How much does it cost to see a dentist in Australia?
Many dental practices are privately owned, which means they can set their own treatment prices. How much a dentist charges for treatment will be influenced by:
- their experience level as a qualified dentist
- where their practice is located
- whether or not they’re a specialist
- the current cost of materials.
Every few years the Australian Dental Association (ADA) runs a fees survey. This gives us a snapshot of what dentists around Australia are charging for various treatments.
The latest fees survey reveal the average cost for a new adult patient check-up is $219 in Australia. (These prices may be slightly lower for minors.)
It’s always worth asking whether the dental practice has a payment plan policy that will make it easier for you to manage your dental costs.
A number of responses proposed reforming the way oral health care is funded and expressed a preference for the Commonwealth to extend the Medicare system to cover dental care and treatment. Responses suggested that reforming the funding model would allow people to obtain basic preventive treatment from local private practitioners. This would relieve the burden on specialist dental units for people with disability. Funding for more specialist dental units for people with disability was also recommended.
From the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.
Dental care concessions you may be eligible for
Eligible children and adults can claim some essential dental services on Medicare. But to access them you’ll need to meet the criteria.
For children, Medicare offers the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which you can find out more about in our article Caring for your child’s oral health.
Each state and territory has public and community dental services for adults and children. You can find a list of these public dental facilities on the Health Direct website. Generally, adults must have a Health Care Card or Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card to use them. Unfortunately, these dental services also have long waiting lists.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) doesn’t cover dental care either. But NDIS funds can be used to train carers so they can implement any at-home care plans your dentist puts in place.
Dental care initiatives for people with disability
When it comes to giving people with disability access to the dental care they so desperately need, the system is far from perfect. But there are individuals and organisations working tirelessly to try and improve the situation.
OneOneTwelve – This pro bono initiative is working to recruit dental practitioners to care for people with disability for 12 months in exchange for extra training in SND. As someone with a chronic health condition, you can apply to receive free dental treatment for 12 months.
Australian Dental Foundation (ADF) – Promoting good oral hygiene for all Australians, ADF delivers accessible resources to make caring for your teeth easier. They’re also working on a tele-dentistry program, which some people with a disability may find preferable to going into a practice.
Filling the Gap – Getting access to dental care to those who need it most, Filling the Gap prioritises people experiencing homelessness, refugees, and those with mental health issues.
In Central Queensland and need a disability-friendly dentist?
If it’s been a while since you last saw a dentist, we hope the information and resources we’ve shared in this article have inspired you to make an appointment. Or at least given you a place to start as you look for the right dentist for you.
Live in the Yeppoon and Rockhampton area? Looking for a friendly, gentle, calm family dentist with experience of treating patients with a disability? We may be able to help. Get in touch with us using the form below or by calling (07) 3130 0806, let us know you’d like an appointment, and we can go from there.
