by Joanne Bladd
From Arabianbusiness.com
More than one million Australian teenagers will have their dental check-ups subsidized by the federal government, under a AUS$360 million scheme fronted by recently elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The plan, which will provide preventive dental treatment for 12- to 17-year-olds, will see eligible families receive a $150 rebate on the cost of a standard dentist visit.
The subsidy will cover roughly half the $290 cost of a comprehensive dental check-up, including oral examination, clean, scale and X-ray.
The government will establish an independent Teen Dental Benefits Schedule under the publicly funded Medicare health system to administer the new scheme.
Health minister Nicola Roxon said the scheme will save taxpayers money by preventing serious dental problems in later life.
She noted the take-up rate for dental services was high among children in primary school but fell away among teenagers, and cited cost as one of the main factors currently keeping teenagers and young adults away from dentists.
Prime Minister Rudd told reporters the scheme would address the "huge" problem Australia had with dental health.
"If you look at the medical literature on this--oral infections, gum disease and the rest goes through the roof at this time in a child's development," he said. "That's why you need preventative dental care."
For more information, go to ABC.
To read more about dentistry in Australia, go to dentistry in Australia.
To comment on this topic, go to PennWell Dental Community site.
