Joint statement by Australian Dental Association (ADA) and Australian Dental Association Queensland (ADAQ)
16 September 2026 – The ADA and ADAQ welcomed the official report release of the Queensland Child
Oral Health Study 2022-24 (QCOHS II), calling for responsibility for water fluoridation to be returned to
state government.
The study clearly highlights the positive impact and effectiveness of public water fluoridation. The overall
prevalence of tooth decay in the 5-to-10-year cohort dropped from 49.5 per cent to 39.4 per cent, but only
where water fluoridation was retained. The many Queensland areas that remained unfluoridated over the
period, or lost fluoridation, saw little or no change in tooth decay rates.
“Tooth decay is dropping across Queensland, which proves fluoridation works. But thirty per cent of
Queensland kids are still missing out, and councils that opted out of water fluoridation over the last ten years
are still being left behind,” Dr Chris Sanzaro, ADA President, said.
“ADAQ has been very vocal in advocating for the return of control of water fluoridation to the State
Government, after a decade of councils being allowed to call the shots on this important public health
measure. This study gives us up to date, local evidence on why fluoridation is important. It is the first time
research has shown what fluoridation achieved for Queensland children’s teeth using a before-and-after
study design. QCOHS II adjusted for health behaviours, including brushing, and the fluoridation benefits
remained,” Dr Kelly Hennessy, ADAQ President, said.
Dr Sanzaro said the findings reinforced the ADA’s national policy position on fluoridation.
“All Australians should have equal access to the benefits of water fluoridation. Fluoridation of community
water supplies is preferred as a safe, effective and ethical means of reducing tooth decay in all age groups
and should be implemented and maintained wherever there is insufficient natural fluoride, with adequate
control and supervision. Governments must adopt water fluoridation as part of health policy and actively
promote its introduction, where it is feasible, as a public health measure,” Dr Sanzaro said.
Broader findings also show improvements over the past decade, but disadvantage persists. Decay burden
rises through the teenage years and falls hardest on First Nations children, rural children, and those from
low-income, low-education households, who are twice as likely to have never seen a dentist despite Child
Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) eligibility. These are largely the same communities missing out on
fluoridated water, compounding their risk.
“As a professional association and advocate for oral health, ADAQ works with members and communities to
ensure information about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) reaches every eligible household, but
more needs to be done in this space,” Dr Kelly Hennessy, ADAQ President said.
Study background:
Led by The University of Queensland in collaboration with many partners including Queensland Health,
QCOHS II collected data from over 7,700 Queensland children aged 5 to 14 years, and compared the results
with those of the earlier QCOHS I study in 2010-2012.
About one in five children aged six to eight has a filling, and the prevalence of fillings is higher in non
fluoridated areas than the Queensland average. The treatment consequence of the prevention gap is visible
in children’s mouths.
The findings also highlight some improvements in children’s oral health more broadly over the last decade,
but ongoing challenges remain. While untreated decay has declined compared to 2012 results, socio
economic disadvantage persists: the burden of decay rises into the teenage years, and affects First Nations
children, children in rural areas, and children from low-income, low-education households. Children from
these cohorts were twice as likely to have never been seen by a dental professional, despite the Child Dental
Benefits Schedule (CDBS) being available for eligible children.
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About the Australian Dental Association (ADA)
The Australian Dental Association is the peak national body for dentists. A member organisation with over
17,000 members and branches in every state and territory, it has three main objectives: to support members
by enhancing their ability to provide safe, high-quality professional oral health care, to encourage the
improvement of the oral health of the public and the promotion of the ethics, art and science of dentistry.
About Australian Dental Association Queensland (ADAQ)
The Australian Dental Association Queensland (ADAQ) is the peak professional body for dentistry in
Queensland, representing over 3,000 members. A not-for-profit membership association, ADAQ supports
its members through advocacy, professional development, and practice services, while working to advance
oral health outcomes for all Queenslanders. ADAQ acts as a trusted source of information on oral health
and clinical practice for both the dental profession and the public.
Media contact:
Australian Dental Association (ADA)
Belinda Iemma 0497748331 | media@ada.org.au
Australian Dental Association Queensland (ADAQ)
Ben Stockwin 0427931148 ben.stockwin@adaq.com.au
