New ADA Dental Health Foundation

Australian Dental Association Inc

Wed. 11. October 2023

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SYDNEY, Australia: The Australian Dental Health Foundation has been rebranded as the ADA Dental Health Foundation, marking a new chapter for an organisation whose work is vital to the oral health of a range of groups in Australia who experience barriers to accessing dental care. The launch event was held at the FDI World Dental Congress 2023 in Sydney and was attended by key staff members, board members, donors, supporters and the volunteers who make the work of the foundation happen.

The rebranding brings to the fore the crucial support and involvement of the Australian Dental Association (ADA), the country’s chief body for dentists. The new name for the organisation, which coordinates vital work among homeless people, those with mental illness and people affected by domestic violence, emphasises that the ADA has been and will continue to be deeply committed to the oral health of all Australians.

This commitment is evident in the ongoing advocacy work of the ADA on behalf of various groups, such as those in aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those with low incomes. The ADA has also contributed to major inquiries, such as the Senate’s investigation into the provision of and access to dental services in Australia and has proved crucial in transforming the lives of many people.

The foundation carries out a number of programmes. The Adopt a Patient programme pairs volunteer dentists with patients who are in need of a course of treatment. These patients are referred by charities and include homeless people, people undergoing drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and those affected by issues such as mental health and domestic violence. In 2022–2023, 1,395 patients were referred for treatment, and 113 practices throughout Australia offered pro bono dental care.

The Rebuilding Smiles programme offers treatment to people who have been affected by domestic and family violence. Although some patients may have experienced dental trauma, typically patients have ongoing oral health conditions related to their lack of dental treatment over time. In 2022–2023, 153 patients received pro bono treatment, delivered by volunteer practitioners who generously gave of their time.

Dental Rescue Days are held in dental practices, which commit a half or full day and their entire team to treating patients pro bono. Over the course of 2022–2023, 32 such days were held nationally, offering 390 appointments to people most in need of acute care.

In addition, the foundation offers grants and scholarships that empower upcoming dental professionals to further their studies and those already in the profession to provide badly needed oral healthcare to those in rural and remote areas.

The ADA is proud to support all of these offerings, which underscore the importance it places on the oral health of everyone in the country, and it looks forward to ensuring the work of the foundation is able to go from strength to strength in the coming years.

Click here to learn more about the foundation.