Hundreds of dentists are teaming up with St Lukes, Tasmania’s leading not-for-profit health and wellbeing organisation, to help more people access affordable preventative dental care and turn around some of the nation’s poorest oral health outcomes.
On World Oral Health Day, St Lukes is celebrating almost 200 providers signing on during the first year of the St Lukes Dental Network, where eligible members get gap‑free preventative treatments, including examinations, x‑rays, scale and cleans, and fissure sealing.
St Lukes Chief Operating Officer Darren Harris said Tasmanian dentists had embraced the initiative, with 195 providers across 42 locations joining the network in just over 12 months.
“Typically, private dental patients must cover the ‘gap’ between what their health fund covers, and what a clinic charges,” Mr Harris said.
“St Lukes identified that this was a real barrier for many people to prioritise check-ups. With cost-of-living pressures at an all-time high, we didn’t want uncertainty around out-of-pocket costs to put people off preventative care.
“We urgently need more focus on prevention. Tasmania already has the nation’s highest rates of tooth loss, untreated decay and smoking, which is a leading cause of gum disease1.
“World Oral Health Day shines a light on the importance of early care, and the St Lukes Dental Network is delivering exactly that: easier access to trusted dentists and lower costs for members, making regular preventative dental affordable and accessible for as many people as possible. It’s all part of our vision of making Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet.”
With more than 10,000 Tasmanian adults waiting for public dental general care2, and dental conditions a major cause of preventable hospital admissions in the state3, Dr Chris Jacobs from Tamar Dental Lounge said check-ups are important for our overall health and wellbeing.
“Many dental problems begin without pain or obvious symptoms, which is why regular check-ups are so important,” Dr Jacobs said.
“Preventive dentistry allows us to identify issues such as early decay or gum disease before they become more complex to treat, ultimately saving patients time, discomfort and significant cost.
“It’s especially important for children and young adults to have regular check-ups and learn how to care for their teeth, setting them up for a lifetime of good oral health.
“Tamar Dental joined the St Lukes Dental Network because it aligns with our focus on making high-quality dental care more accessible for our patients, making prioritising oral health easier, and supporting patients to maintain healthy smiles.”
Mr Harris said the uptake was a win-win for patients and dental practices, while also removing pressure from the public dental and hospital systems.
“Unlike some major insurers, we don’t just provide gap-free treatment at our St Lukes Dental practices in Launceston and Hobart – any provider can be part of the Network, and we’re thrilled by the uptake,” he said.
“Treating more patients in the private system will have a big impact for all Tasmanians by reducing pressure on the public dental waitlist, which is currently around four years4 for non-emergency procedures – in which time simple issues can become serious.”
Members can find a local participating dentist at stlukes.com.au/dental/providers.
ENDS
2. https://www.health.tas.gov.au/health-system-dashboard/monthly/oral-health
3. https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/ohf.1.5_adatb_ohf_sub_20210217_0.pdf