As the ABC has reported, there are ‘appalling’ rates of preventable hospital admissions in some Queensland communities. Tooth decay is top of the list of conditions leading to avoidable hospital stays.
Strategies enabling Indigenous Health Workers to provide dental care and the use of teledentistry may reduce hospitalisation rates, leading to costs savings and better health outcomes for all Queenslanders.
You can read the full COH paper published in the Australian Journal of Primary Health here.