International Research Collaborative - Oral Health and Equity Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
Int Dent J. 2014 Feb;64(1):29-33. doi: 10.1111/idj.12059. Epub 2013 Sep 13.
Dentistry in Australia has faced, and continues to face, significant workforce issues, in particular, a grossly distorted workforce distribution. In this study, an analysis of the consequences for the workforce that would occur under a series of reduced maldistribution scenarios is examined and reported. Three different scenarios were tested based on existing dental practice to population data at a national level. This study clearly highlights the very significant maldistribution of practices in Australia. However, more importantly, it highlights that to address this maldistribution requires something in the order of a tenfold increase in dental practice numbers (and the commensurate increase in workforce), which is not possible (or reasonable). As a nation, Australia has to look to other methods of achieving equity in access to good oral health. The application of modes of care delivery including, but not limited to visiting services needs to be examined and extended. Clearly, these new methodologies are going to rely on non-dental health professionals taking a far more significant role in leading oral health-care models as well as the expanded application of technology to bring unique skill bases to areas where these skilled individuals do not (and will not) reside.
澳大利亚的牙科行业一直面临着（并且仍在继续面临着）重大的劳动力问题，尤其是劳动力分布严重扭曲。本研究分析了在一系列劳动力分布不均程度降低的假设情景下，劳动力将出现的变化，并对此进行了报告。根据全国现有的牙科实践和人口数据，本研究测试了三种不同的情景。这项研究清楚地突出了澳大利亚牙科实践中非常严重的分布不均。然而，更重要的是，它强调了要解决这种分布不均，需要将牙科实践数量（以及相应的劳动力）增加十倍以上，这是不可能（或不合理的）。作为一个国家，澳大利亚必须寻求其他方法来实现获得良好口腔健康的公平性。需要检查和扩展包括但不限于巡回服务在内的护理提供模式。显然，这些新方法学将依赖于非牙科卫生专业人员在引领口腔保健模式方面发挥更重要的作用，以及扩大技术的应用，将独特的技能基础带到这些技能人员（目前和将来都不会）所在的地区。
