Dr. Matthew Lim & A/Prof. Mina Borromeo Discuss Lack of Dental Care for Disabled Australians on ABC News

Dr. Matthew Lim and Honorary Associate Professor Mina Borromeo were recently appeared in ABC News for their efforts to address the lack of dental care for disabled Australians.

According to a recent report by ABC News, disabled Australians face significant challenges in accessing dental care due to cost and accessibility issues.

Dr. Matthew Lim, a special needs dentistry consultant, lecturer, and researcher at the Melbourne Dental School, is not surprised by the stories of people with disabilities struggling to access dental care. treats patients with disabilities in both the public and private systems, and he frequently sees patients who have waited years for treatment and are in crisis situations. The barriers to care are particularly high for people with intellectual disabilities or complex needs, who require specialist care and may have to wait on extended waitlists. Despite the prevalence of oral health issues among people with disabilities, there is a lack of data on the topic, as current metrics are not inclusive of those who cannot answer surveys or visit conventional dentists.

To address dental inequity, Honorary Associate Professor Mina Borromeo founded the charity OneOneTwelve. OneOneTwelve aims to build a more inclusive workforce by recruiting oral health practitioners and people with disabilities. The program offers a unique quid pro quo: in exchange for taking on a person with a disability pro bono for a year, the dental practitioner will receive practical special needs dentistry training, mentorship, and support. The training aims to give practitioners the skills and support they need to treat people with disabilities with confidence.

Click here to read the full article on ABC News.