From post-lockdown rehabilitation to enhancing access to dentistry for disadvantaged patients, incoming ADA NSW president Dr Michael Jonas is pushing for a better future for everyone. Shane Conroy's
Many dental clinics were left with empty chairs as COVID-19 lockdowns drove many patients to postpone non-essential dental services. As a result, once-busy waiting rooms have been reduced to a smattering of emergency patients, and other clinics have shuttered their doors entirely. However, with state-wide lockdowns removed and vaccination rates in NSW reaching the 90s, the future is beginning to seem a bit better.
It could've been a lot worse. According to Dr Michael Jonas, the new president of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) NSW, there was a moment during the second epidemic when NSW's dental profession was in danger of being severely limited.
He said that they may have reached a point where no patients could be treated at all, and dentistry would have been closed down. However, the ADA NSW has a solid connection with NSW Health, and with their approval, we were able to implement a risk-based method in which practice owners were empowered to evaluate their own risks.
Dr Jonas says that dental practitioners had to use their clinical judgment to assess if a delay in dental treatment would result in negative patient outcomes during the lockdown. Still, they were free to make their own judgments. As a result, some elected to close their doors and take a long rest. Others continued to operate despite the lockout.
The ADA NSW was there to help dental practitioners during the pandemic's worst days–and not only its roughly 5000 members throughout NSW and the ACT. With dangers differing by Local Government Area (LGA), the ADA NSW's Practice Services section became a resource for all dentists.
Dr Jonas explains that their Practice Services staff was continuously on the phone, answering questions and relaying new information from NSW Health to our members. They didn't put that material behind a barrier only for our subscribers. They made it available on our website. It was the responsible thing to do for the profession and the public.
Dr Jonas is cautiously hopeful about the possibility of a post-lockdown recovery. He believes that the pent-up demand for preventive and restorative procedures that were postponed during the lockdown will assist dental practitioners throughout NSW in resuming normal operations. He also feels that dental practitioners are well-positioned to deal with any further epidemics.
Dr Jonas, who graduated from university in 1980, feels that earlier epidemics' teachings are still applicable today.
Since the AIDS catastrophe in the 1980s prompted us to consider infection prevention on a big scale, dentistry in our nation has been practicing with efficiency measures. They've been using personal protective equipment (PPE) for over 40 years, and our standard procedures are more than enough. Of course, we must maintain heightened vigilance for the time being, but after COVID-19 is forgotten, dentists will continue to work to prevent or reduce the spread of infectious illnesses.
Until then, Dr Jonas says the Practice Services team will continue to serve as an information conduit between NSW Health and the state's dental profession and will continue to produce infection prevention and control (IPC) videos and webinar resources for members from the ADA NSW St Leonards production facility.
Dr Jonas views ADA NSW as a vital champion for equitable access to oral health treatments for everyone, in addition to assisting its members through their post-lockdown rehabilitation.
Dr Jonas is delighted to note that as head of the ADA NSW's Filling the Gap campaign, the charity has delivered almost $1 million in pro bono dental care to needy and underprivileged individuals.
He explained that it began as a method to use the four operating surgeries we have at the ADA NSW site and has expanded into a much more extensive network. In addition, dental offices from around the state donate their facilities and services for treatment days. It's really gratifying for everyone who takes part.
Another objective for Dr Jonas' term as ADA NSW president is addressing the issues of regional and rural dentistry. For 30 years, he owned and maintained a business in Gunnedah before selling and relocating to Tamworth as an employee dentist.
He said that he has been working in rural dentistry for a long time. It's always about money and personnel. Getting an appropriate number of practitioners into rural regions is difficult, although it is improving. Rural dentistry is becoming a feasible option for young dentists looking to start their profession and build a life.

Dr Jonas also intends to strengthen the ADA NSW's engagement with the Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia (IDAA).
He adds that they're collaborating with the IDAA to enhance Indigenous Australians' oral hygiene and dental results in New South Wales. Our collaboration is in its early stages, but we're assisting them with management and governance to gain a place at the table.
Dr Jonas said that the ADA NSW would continue to prioritise dental health for the elderly and children under his leadership. For example, through the Child Oral Benefits program, we are promoting children's dental health. It offers free dentistry to youngsters (with limited constraints) and is incredibly underutilised.
Whilst the ADA NSW had great success presenting to the aged care royal commission under former president Dr Kathleen Matthews, Dr Jonas believes there is still much work to be done on the issue: They need everyone to understand that the more teeth you have removed as one get older, the worse health outcomes.
Dr Jones said that they want to increase access to dentistry for all Australians at the end of the day. It's really fulfilling, and our members' great energy and passion keep me going.
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