Oral health is inextricably linked to overall health, yet oral care remains one of the most neglected areas of the healthcare system.
Many Australians lack access to timely and effective dental services, especially those with limited financial resources. Oral diseases not only impact health but can also lead to serious social problems.
The University of Sydney is promoting systemic change in oral health through an innovative philanthropic initiative. With the generous support of Sue and Sue Abrahams and the Rosebrook Foundation, the Chair of Lifespan Oral Health has been established.
The Chair, led by internationally renowned public health expert Associate Professor Ankur Singh, is dedicated to improving oral health policy, prevention strategies, and access to care. It is pioneering new approaches to research and advocacy, making prevention a national public health priority.
Co-founder Dr. Alex Abrahams admits that his initial path into dentistry was accidental, but as his career progressed, he discovered deeper challenges within the profession.
As the founder of Pacific Smiles Group, one of Australia’s largest dental clinic networks, Alex has always prioritized patients and worked to improve access to services.
However, he gradually realized that the current health system was overly focused on treatment and neglected prevention, resulting in significant amounts of avoidable suffering and expense.
Alex recalled a discussion at the University of Sydney about the decline of preventive dentistry in Australia: “The problem was clear; the key was how to communicate and make prevention a social consensus and priority.
In fact, every $1 invested in prevention saves $10 in treatment costs. Why wouldn’t we do it?”
By supporting the Lifelong Oral Health Lectureship, Alex and Sue Abrahams hope to drive policy change, conduct far-reaching research, improve national oral health, emphasize the importance of prevention, and reduce unnecessary medical expenses.
As the project leader, Associate Professor Ankur Singh specializes in oral health inequalities and public health policy. He noted that approximately 40% of adults in Australia cannot access the dental care they need due to financial constraints.
However, oral diseases aren’t simply caused by a lack of treatment. Malnutrition, psychological stress, and targeted marketing by certain industries targeting vulnerable groups also exacerbate oral health issues.
Ankur emphasized, “We need to go beyond providing treatment and focus on the fundamentals of oral health—its role in overall health, its impact on individual quality of life, and how to effectively prevent disease before it occurs.”
He called for a systematic approach to oral health reform, ushering in a new era centered on prevention.
