Aged Care Dental Program
Oral health is an important part of ensuring seniors age positively.
As people get older, their need for oral health care increases. Older people more commonly experience certain oral health diseases and related problems as they become less able to self-manage and self-report with age due to issues of cognitive impairment, physical frailty, functional dependence, and comorbidities.
Good oral hygiene, early treatment and maintenance can help ensure they can enjoy all aspects of their life and age positively. It includes having functional teeth, an appropriately moist mouth and most importantly, not being in physical pain or discomfort from active oral disease or ill-fitting dentures.
The Australian Dental Foundation’s Aged Care Dental Program supports the management and prevention of oral conditions for seniors in aged care facilities and residential living complexes – where oral disease is often prevalent from limited access to a traditional dentist. We offer a total dental solution at a minimal cost for residents operating as a fully functional mobile dental team with portable dental equipment.
Local Dental Solution for Your Site
As a fully functional mobile dental team, we are equipped to provide a local onsite dental clinic for residents in aged care/residential living complexes.
Not-For-Profit
As a not-for-profit, all profits are reinvested into our program to facilitate better oral health outcomes and well-being for Australian residents.
Support Network
We’re here to help beyond our onsite dentistry with a range of support services to ensure residents can access a dentist when they need it most. This includes Tele-Dentistry and an emergency hotline number.
Testimonial
Thank you ADF for your support.
Ian Blair
Uniting AgeWell | Director of Operations – Victoria
Aged Care Program FAQ
For Next of Kin/Legal Guardian
The Australian Dental Foundation will visit your mum/dad’s facility to undertake an initial dental examination (check-up), with one or more of the following depending on their needs/consented to: x-rays, clean, fluoride treatment, dietary advice, and/or oral hygiene instruction.
If your mum/dad requires further follow-up treatment, our team will contact you to discuss the available options and obtain consent prior to performing any additional treatment. If no further treatment is required, your mum/dad will be seen in the next 6 to 12 months for their routine dental check-up.
After the dental check-up, you will be contacted by the treating dentist via phone regarding your mum/dad’s appointment.
You do not need to attend your mum/dad’s appointment, but if you wish to, our team can arrange a suitable time for you and your mum/dad to see the dentist together.
As a fully functional mobile dental team, we are equipped to provide a range of dental services including dental check-ups, cleans, fluoride, x-rays, fillings, denture services and simple extractions.
After the dental appointment, an invoice will be sent out to the financial consentee (email or post) for payment of services.
There is no cost for DVA Gold Card Holders and those residents with private health may be eligible for rebates once full payment has been made to the Australian Dental Foundation. If so, we will provide you with necessary documentation to make an easy health cover claim.
Prior to the scheduled dental visit, please complete and return a consent form to reception with applicable Medicare and/or DVA Gold Card details. Consent forms will be available at your facility’s reception or via nursing staff. A copy of your mum/dad’s medication charts and diagnosis summary must also be provided by the facility also.
If your mum/dad refuses to be seen on the day, we can reschedule their appointment for the same-day or another visit. There will be no charge to you for their refusal unless it is a one-off visit where a service fee will apply. We are sympathetic of the challenges experienced by patients and individual situations, so should you have any questions and/or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
Depending on your mum/dad’s situation, we can arrange a tele-dentistry consult and/or a one-off visit for urgent care. A small fee is applicable for both options and will be discussed with you prior to scheduling.
If you have any further questions, please contact us.
For Aged Care Facilities/Residential Living Complexes
A dentist and dental assistant will visit your aged care facility/residential living complex to deliver oral health care onsite, in an appropriate room with access to running water. Bedside appointments available for denture work only. An ADF representative will work with your facility to deliver the program with minimal disruption to you and your residents.
Depending on the needs of the site and associated residents, site visits may occur every 3, 6 or 12 months to ensure they can enjoy all aspects of their life and age positively.
Prior to the scheduled dental visit, the next of kin or self-consenting resident must complete and return a consent form to reception with applicable Medicare and/or DVA Gold Card details. A copy of the resident’s medication charts and diagnosis summary must also be provided by the facility also.
Nursing staff do not need to attend a resident’s appointment, but if a next of kin wishes to, we can arrange a suitable time for them and the resident to see the dentist together.
Depending on the resident’s condition, we can arrange a tele-dentistry consult and/or a one-off dental visit for care. A small fee is applicable for both options and will be discussed with the next of kin prior to scheduling.
If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Register Your Site's Interest Today
Aged care facilities and/or residential living complexes can register their interest for the Aged Care Dental Program by completing a registration form. Once submitted, an Australian Dental Foundation representative will contact you to complete the registration process.