University of Tasmania, Australia

Historically, dental services in Australia have been provided through a delivery system operating in isolation from mainstream health services. This has resulted in a neglect of the linkages between oral health and general health and lack of articulation between primary dental care and primary health care as experienced in the difficulties in providing adequate dental care to groups such as the aged, rural dwellers, Indigenous communities and those with disabilities.

Dr Leonard Crocombe will discuss our knowledge gaps in the provision of adequate oral health care to these groups and the role of the new Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Primary Oral Health in forging a link between dental care and primary health care.

The CRE in Primary Oral Health Care is conducting a program of research focused on four themes: Successful ageing and oral health, rural oral health, Indigenous oral health and the oral health of people with physical and intellectual disabilities.