Use dental to avoid hospital

From 2020-2022, dental conditions were a leading cause of potentially preventable hospital admissions in Australia. 

But with your Police Health Rolling Extras cover or Gold Combined cover, you and your family can avoid being part of that statistic.

Those stats come from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) latest report into potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) in Australia.

It found that out of every 100,000 people, 323 were admitted to hospital for preventable dental conditions in 2020–21, and 306 in 2021–22 – the highest rate among all clinical categories.

These dental conditions include periodontal diseases, gingivitis and a range of other mouth related diseases.

Dentist’s stats add to concern

The Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) 2024 Australia’s Adult Oral Health Tracker also found that;

  • 32% of adults have untreated tooth decay, well above their 20% target
  • 29% of adults have periodontal pockets larger than 4mm, almost double the ADA’s target of 17%

It also found that almost 11 in every 1,000 children aged 5-9 were admitted to Australian hospitals for preventable dental conditions in 2021-2022, compared to 9.5 per 1,000 in 2018.

So how can Police Health’s dental cover help?

If you have our Rolling Extras cover or Gold Combined cover and have served dental waiting periods, you can avoid going to the hospital by seeing the dentist regularly.

The Australian Dental Foundation and healthdirect highlight the many benefits of regular dentist visits, including;

  • Identifying early signs of dental issues such as cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and teeth misalignment
  • Treatments are not only simpler but less expensive than emergency procedures

How often you should go and what you’re covered for

As our Dental Benefit Guide explains, most dentists recommend a routine dental check-up every 6 to 12 months,

The Australian Dental Association NSW (ADA NSW) says regular routine check-ups are important - not just for the teeth but also the gums and the mouth as a whole.

Regular visits can also help identify risks so that preventive strategies can be put in place.

Most dentists recommend a routine dental check-up every 6 to 12 months.

We cover General Dental and Major Dental, 

helping police and their families look after their health through regular dental check-ups, preventative treatment and support for more significant dental work. 

For families, some of the most common General Dental services include; 

  • Routine check-ups
  • Scale and cleans
  • Fillings and x-rays 

Regular dental care can help detect issues early and support long-term oral health, but these services are generally not covered by Medicare. 

This usually means higher out-of-pocket costs if you don't have private health insurance. 

Not a member? Get a quote or join our cover

 

Prevention is better

While some of these suggestions may have some out-of-pocket costs, they are very small when you compared to an average out of pocket people pay when they go to hospital.

Plus, going to hospital tends to be a more stressful scenario than regularly seeing the dentist.