A recently published article in The Guardian about oral health and the lack of dentists in rural Australia, quotes Alliance Chief Executive Susi Tegen, who emphasised that dental access is ‘an enormous issue’ in the regions.
Of the 7 million people in rural, remote and regional Australia, ‘one in three don’t even have access [to a dentist],’ says The Guardian.
Ms Tegen called for more investment in training rural dental clinicians and more funds to help pay for the higher costs of service in rural communities.
The article also links to the Alliance’s estimates that rural communities are missing out on $6.5bn annually on the health care dollar.