INTEGRATING ORAL HEALTH CARE ACROSS NON-DENTAL PROFESSIONALS
PART 2: CASE STUDY Integrated oral health care in midwifery practice
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne, Liverpool, NSW and Sydney | February 2025
INTERVIEWS
Associate Professor Rachel Martin, Adjunct Associate Professor,
University of Melbourne & Western Sydney University &
Director, Australian Network for the Integration of Oral Health (NIOH) & Director, Australian Dental Research Foundation
Dr Ajesh George, Professor of Interprofessional Oral Health,
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University &
Co-Founder & Director, Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH)
Alison Weatherstone, Chief Midwife
Australian College of Midwives
Bonnie Morrison, Health Promotion Team Lead
Dental Health Services Victoria
Cindy Scott, Endorsed Midwife & Registered Nurse
Growing Great Babies and Kids Program, Tweddle &
Early Parenting Centre, Barwon Health, Victoria
Following the Australian Health Journal segment, “Integrating oral health care across non-dental professionals: Part 1 How oral health and cardiovascular health, diabetes and cognitive decline are related”, Part 2 is a Case Study on an integrated oral health care in midwifery practice called the midwifery initiated oral health model, or MIOH for short.
There is limited emphasis being placed on perinatal oral health by prenatal care providers in Australia. Pregnant women have no system in place that can offer them regular oral assessment during pregnancy and prompt dental treatment at minimal or no cost as experienced in other countries. To address the oral health needs of pregnant women, a unique midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) model was developed to promote and maintain maternal oral health.
The model equips midwives with the skills and confidence to include oral health promotion in the first antenatal care booking visit. Commenced in 2008 in Campbelltown Hospital in South Western Sydney, MIOHis succeeding in improving the oral health knowledge, behaviours and oral health outcomes of pregnant women.
This widely researched online education program was prepared by the Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health, in collaboration with various partners including Western Sydney University, Sydney & South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney Dental Hospital, Dental Health Services Victoria, and the Australian College of Midwives. It was supported by funding from the NSW Centre for Oral Health Strategy, Western Sydney University and the Australian College of Midwives.
Australian Health Journal spoke with some of the key representatives of the organisations involved in the establishment, support and involvement in the program.
To see the Australian Health Journal segment, “Integrating oral health care across non-dental professionals: PART 1 How oral health and cardiovascular health, diabetes and cognitive decline”, click here
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AHW Exhibitor: Gentec Australia
Gentec Australia, an Australian supplier of tapware and designer of wash basins to the healthcare industry exhibited at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week 2019. Their patented basin design reduces the risk of infection through splashing from water through an offset waste, as well as other infection control features. Know My Group reporter Anne Dao spoke with General Manager for Sales Graeme Bunt and State Manager (VIC) Vanessa Beever.
In an upcoming segment Australian Health Journal will cover the technologies deployed and steps taken by hospitals and clinics in infection control.
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Dr Anjali Jaiprakash, Robobiologist from Queensland University of Technology
Dr Anjali Jaiprakash is a robobiologist working at the intersection of medicine, engineering and design, with a transdisciplinary approach to develop medical devices that translate robotic vision into affordable systems that can be used to improve healthcare outcomes. Anjali has experience in the fields of medical robotics, medical device, orthopaedics, trauma, bone and cartilage biology. She spoke with Anne Dao following her talk “The Robot Doctor Will See you Now” at Australian Healthcare Week 2019.
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Physiotherapist, exercise physiologist support for management of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is commonly managed medically and typically with treatment. Exercise is also essential in the management of osteoporosis but tends to be under-utilised due to lack of knowledge and unfounded concerns about the risk of injury. In fact, optimal care of people with low bone mass, osteoporosis and/or increased risk of falling can and should include targeted exercise to help prevent osteoporotic fracture.
In early 2024, Healthy Bones Australia released a summary of the principles of osteogenic loading and fall prevention, the translation of those principles into clinical practice, evidence-based recommendations for exercise prescription, and special considerations, along with links to several relevant resources for people with or at risk of osteoporosis, falls and fractures.
