Dental health in the outback
Dental care in remote areas presents special challenges compared to more urban areas. Some of these difficulties are highlighted below. Thanks go to the Better Health Channel website, who provided some of the medical information below.
Difficulty in accessing regular dental services
People in remote areas often only have infrequent visits by health staff. RFDS dentists might visit a community once per month, or sometimes only once per year. Because of infrequent dentist visits, patients in these areas often need to “put up with” their dental problems before they can get treatment and these are unlikely to be treated as frequently as for people living in larger centres. So, people in remote areas are more likely to have tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems.
Lower dental education and product availability
Because there aren’t a lot of dental services in remote areas, people living in these areas receive less education about good dental hygiene than other people. They might not be aware of things that people in cities take for granted, e.g., the importance of regular tooth brushing. Also, basic dental hygiene products such as toothpaste and toothbrushes can be more expensive in remote areas and people might be on low incomes, meaning they might have trouble affording these products. Rates of gum disease and other dental problems can be high in remote areas.
No fluoridation of water
Adding fluoride to water supplies has been proven to reduce the incidence of tooth decay in many parts of the world. City dwellers in most larger centres of Australia take it for granted that their water supplies have been fluoridated and their rates of tooth decay are lower because of this. In remote areas, it is not practical to fluoridate drinking water supplies and so people living in these areas are more subject to tooth decay. It is particularly important that people living in areas without fluoridated water pay special attention to regular brushing of their teeth with fluoridated toothpaste.
High rate of diabetes
While many western populations around the world are experiencing epidemic rates of diabetes, this disease is particularly common in many remote parts of Australia. Diabetes leads to higher risk of a number of other diseases, including a lowered resistance to infection. This means that people with diabetes have an increased risk of tooth and gum infection.
Link between gum disease and chronic illnesses
The links between periodontal (gum) disease and a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and strokes have been documented. Low birth weight is also linked to gum disease. People in remote communities are subject to all of these conditions at high rates.
High levels of rheumatic heart disease, which can be worsened by poor oral health
Without medical treatment, an infection with the Group A streptococcus bacterium can cause rheumatic fever. The untreated infection (such as ‘strep throat’) spreads throughout the body and causes inflammation. Rheumatic fever is rare in Australia except among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially children, who live in remote areas. Access to medical treatment may be limited, which is why cases of rheumatic fever often go undiagnosed and untreated. Good dental hygiene is important for people prone to rheumatic heart disease, since oral bacteria entering the bloodstream can increase the risk of heart complications such as endocarditis (inflammation of the inner heart lining).
Pictured above: RFDS Dentist Lyn Mayne sees a patient at a property clinic