Better oral health for people with disabilities

My mission is to build a dental workforce and raise funds to improve the oral health of those with disabilities.

In Australia, we have over 4.4 million people with a disability which equates to 1 in 6 people. 13% are placed on public dental waiting lists, with some waiting more than a year to access care. Imagine how you would feel if you had a toothache and were told you had to wait at least a year to fix it! 28% either don’t go to a dentist or delay dental care because they cannot afford it. Bad breath and teeth make you less likely to smile, make friends and want to engage in society. It becomes harder to find a job, adding to the likelihood of not being able to afford dental care.

There are at least 24,143 registered dental practitioners Australia-wide. There are only 25 registered Specialists in Special Needs Dentistry in Australia who are all based in capital cities. That amounts to 1 specialist per 176,000 people with a disability. People with disabilities have difficulty accessing timely and adequate care for their teeth. They are prone to poor oral health, which means they are at greater risk of poorer general health outcomes. They often rely on the public system for care, as treatment in the private sector can be prohibitive.

I am raising funds to facilitate good oral health for people with disabilities. Here is the difference your donation could make:

​

$5 –Toothpaste or a toothbrush for someone so they can carry out good basic oral hygiene

$10 - High fluoride toothpaste for someone with poor saliva

$20 – Disposable foam mouth props to keep the mouth open during toothbrushing

$50 – A specialised oral care package to reduce the risk of painful tooth decay and gum issues

$100 – An electric toothbrush and toothbrush heads for someone who struggles to hold a manual toothbrush

$200 – Training to carers in a shared home to gain a better understanding of issues around good oral health care, therefore benefiting several residents

$500 – A specialised suction toothbrushing unit for someone with swallowing problems

$1000 – Can help someone have their infected wisdom teeth taken out

$3000 – A set of dentures for someone who has had to have their teeth taken out due to trouble accessing good dental care, so they feel great giving you a smile

$5000 – General anaesthetic treatment for someone unable to cope with having dental treatment while they are awake

I have spent my career managing the oral health of those with special needs and was a specialist in Special Needs Dentistry (SND). I developed the first fully accredited specialty training program in the field in the southern hemisphere. I have published and spoken extensively nationally and internationally on why we have the problem of poor oral health amongst those with challenging health issues. I have received the David White Award for teaching excellence recognising innovations in teaching Special Needs Dentistry. In addition, I received a Citation for outstanding contribution to student learning from the Office of Teaching and Learning, Australian Federal Government. More recently, I received a 2022 Dentistry Achievement Award in recognition of services to special needs dentistry.

I am also a passionate ultrarunner. I use my time on the trails to problem-solve in the oral health space and discover new and different ways to raise awareness and better the oral health journey for those who struggle to secure basic, routine dental care. Every step, especially the painful ones, reminds me of how privileged I am to be able to get out there and watch the sunrise. Despite this, I never underestimate how lucky I am that I can put one foot in front of the other and smile when so many others cannot.

Good oral health is not a privilege but a human right. The recent Aged Care Royal Commission and the current Royal Commission into those with disabilities have disappointedly highlighted that oral health in many with disabilities is something they can only aspire to. It’s time to realise that every mouth is a mouth regardless of who it belongs to and recognise that everyone deserves the right to good oral health.