Dentists warn of two-tiered health system if private health industry allowed to extend insurance to GP clinics

Dentists say the influence of the private health industry has led to a two-tiered system in their sector and they oppose extending insurance to GP clinics.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) gave evidence in Sydney at a Senate committee hearing on proposed new laws to exclude insurers from family medicine.

Greens Senator Richard Di Natale has proposed changes to laws in response to a Medibank Private trial in south-east Queensland where insured patients receive preferential treatment.
The trial is operating at 26 clinics and includes priority appointments for patients, after-hour services, and bulk billing.

Senator Di Natale wants to outlaw insurers having any relationships with private practice.

ADA chief executive Robert Boyd-Boland told the committee that private health insurers had long been involved with the dental sector and anti-competitive practices were common.

He said these practices included:

• Refusing some dentists' requests to become "preferred providers" in areas where they were oversubscribed
• Insurers using other products to subsidise their own "no-gap" dental clinics to sink competitors
• Refusing rebates for arbitrary and incorrect reasons
• Acting as a "de facto dental board" by removing dentists from their preferred providers list if the company disagreed with their practices.

"The Australian Dental Association receives complaints almost daily from dentists and patients upset that rebate levels vary depending on whether the dentist has a relationship with an insurer," Mr Boyd-Boland said.

"It's resulted in a two-tiered system."

Mr Boyd-Boland likened the situation to bookies owning the track, the horses, the jockeys, the rules, setting the odds and paying the dividends.

He said the association had complained to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to no avail.
"Our experience with private health insurers is that, without better regulation by government, private health insurers are significantly impacting on the delivery of optimal patient dental care in Australia," he said.

"Clearly private health insurers are focused on providing greater return for their shareholders than on the health of their policy holders.

"We feel that’s unconscionable behaviour, in particular with the premium being paid to the insurer, in part, being subsidised by the Federal Government. We feel government have been remiss in not keeping a check on this."

Insurer says it wants to prevent expensive hospital stays

Medibank Private defended its Queensland trial to the committee, saying health care costs were skyrocketing and it wanted to prevent patients needing expensive hospital stays.

Company representatives said the proposed changes to laws could impact 300,000 overseas students and visitors who were not covered by Medicare and whose visa required them to have health insurance for GP visits.

Corporate affairs manager Dan O'Brien said Medibank Private had no plans to seek to cover out-of-pocket costs at the GP office.

"GPs are the most efficient part of the healthcare system," Mr O'Brien said.

"Keeping people out of hospital is the most important aspect of making health care affordable."

Mr O'Brien said the company's move into GP cover was not about competitive advantage ahead of its public float.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with pending ownership changes," he said.

Mr O'Brien said the next stage of the company's trial would involve chronic disease management.
ACOSS concerned trial is move towards US-style system

The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) told the committee it was concerned the Medibank trial was a move towards a United States–style health system.

The council's Rebecca Vassarotti said overseas experience suggested insurers who were involved in primary care pushed up appointment costs for everybody.

"It's particularly important that primary health services are universally accessible and affordable regardless of an individual's capacity to pay," she said.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) also voiced concerns about the trial and gave evidence to the committee.
AMA president Professor Brian Owler said the association felt Medibank Private had been trying to use a "back door" to get into general practice.

This would ultimately lead to "managed care" where insurers influenced who patients saw and used incentives to manipulate the way doctors treated patients.

"Our concern is looking towards the future, how this plays out with more insurers," he said.
"Anyone who thinks managed care is not the end game needs to open their eyes. That’s clearly the end game."
However he said the association was open in the future to discussions on including insurers in chronic disease management.

-Read more at: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/dentists-warn-two-tiered-health-062323732.html

Braces: Which one should you go for?

SINGAPORE - More adults here are seeking orthodontic treatment to improve their appearance, as well as oral health and function, even as some say they will not do so for fear of pain or because they think they are too old for it.
However, there is no age limit for orthodontic treatment.
"Orthodontic treatment can be performed as long as the patient's gum condition is good," said Clinical Associate Professor Chew Ming Tak, senior consultant and head of the department of orthodontics at National Dental Centre Singapore.

"As one ages, there is a higher incidence of gum problems and this will compromise the outcome of orthodontic treatment."

Allow the orthodontist to assess your gum condition. If need be, he may recommend gum treatment prior to the orthodontic treatment, he said.
Prof Chew added that the majority of patients who opt for braces are in their early to late teens, but more adults are now seeking orthodontic treatment for problems which were not addressed when they were young.

"Although it may take longer to straighten the teeth because teeth movement slows as one ages, the outcome can be just as good," he said.
The good thing is that adults often experience fewer problems than teenagers during the course of treatment as they are more motivated to follow the dentist's advice on taking care of their teeth.
"Their good compliance also helps the orthodontist to attain the objectives of treatment in the shortest possible time," said Prof Chew.
For those thinking of going for orthodontic treatment for crooked teeth, there are a few types of braces to choose from.

Dr Cheng Eng Wah, principal partner and founder of Ubi Dental Clinic and i.Dental, said metal braces remain popular, although people can now straighten their teeth with the Invisalign system using a series of virtually invisible and removable aligners, instead of fixed wires or brackets.
Unlike traditional braces, they can be removed and, therefore, interfere as little as possible with sports, and cause little irritation to gums, he said.
However, these benefits do not come cheap. The Invisalign system costs much more than traditional metal braces. At Dr Cheng's clinics, it costs from $4,500, excluding GST, consultation fees and other fees, compared with $3,500 and upwards for traditional metal braces.
In general, the fees for braces range from $3,000 to $4,870 at public institutions and $3,480 to $8,000 at private dental clinics, according to the Health Ministry's website.

Which one should you go for?
TRADITIONAL METAL BRACES
Traditional metal braces are brackets made of stainless steel which are fixed to the teeth's external surface.
An archwire runs through the brackets and is held in place by elastic bands. The braces exert pressure on the teeth and, gradually, shift the teeth into their new position.

Pros: Metal braces are the cheapest, most durable and most effective in treating badly misaligned teeth.


Cons: They are clearly visible on the teeth. You may be self-conscious when you smile. The metal wires and braces may trap food particles and hurt your gums during the initial adjustment phase.
Cost: From $3,330
- See more at: http://yourhealth.asiaone.com/content/braces-which-one-should-you-go/page/0/1#sthash.lLq7MpvY.dpuf

Oshawa Dentist Teeth Brushing Tips | Dental Care Instructions - Your Smile Dental Care

Your Dental Care Rights

Dental Assistants try to provide patients with the knowledge of proper dental care as well as information about the procedures they are about to undergo. Patients have rights in regards to their dental care that Dental Assistants need to be aware of and be respectful of.

Dental patients have the right to make an informed decision about their dental care. It is the responsibility of the Dental Assistant to make sure they know the facts about the procedures, the alternative options, and any risks involved in the procedures. Dental patients have the right to receive care from qualified staff members. Most dental offices will provide the licensing and credentials of staff members upon patient request.

Receiving quality care is important to patients. Dental Assistants can do their part by taking the time to properly clean all dental tools and equipment. Standard sterilization procedures need to be followed accurately. Patients have the right to ask questions and receive informed decisions about the care they receive. Dental Assistants have the responsibility of keeping the lines of communication open. They need to be approachable by patients.

A patient has the right to refuse their treatment or discontinue their treatment at any time. The Dental Assistant needs to be respectful of this choice. However, the Dental Assistant has the responsibility to inform the patient of the health risks involved by doing so. Those patients wanting to continue care have the right to be seen at a different scheduled appointments and for a detailed treatment plan to be carefully outlined, and then be followed.

Emergency situations do occur. Patients have the right to be seen as soon as possible. In the mean time, the Dental Assistant needs to do everything possible to reduce the pain and make the patient as comfortable as possible. Dental care can be expensive. Patients have the right to receive an itemized cost of treatment prior to accepting any dental services.

All patients want to be treated with dignity and respect. The patient who comes in with poor oral care habits doesn’t want the Dental Assistant to ask them rude questions about the last time they brushed their teeth. However, it is important for the Dental Assistant to express concern about the patient’s oral health habits, and provide education to help the patient develop better oral care practices.

Dental patients have the right to confidentiality. Dental Assistants need to keep information about procedures and those coming in for them to themselves. No one wants everyone in town to know they had two cavities or that they got their teeth whitened. Confidentially is very important to individuals in all areas, and their dental care is no different. A patient has the right to request copies of all information in their file at any time for their own use.


Dental Assistants need to be fully aware to patient rights. It is easy to get caught up in the procedures and duties of the dental profession. However, the satisfaction of the patient is the key to providing quality service and maintaining ongoing relationships with patients. Dental Assistants can do their part by providing patients with an approachable individual that they can discuss their needs, ideas, thoughts, and concerns over their dental care with. In that regard, a Dental Assistant can serve as a lesson between the patient and the other dental staff.