Dental care for low income Australians
Strengthening public dental services
As a concession card holder, Joanne is eligible for treatment through a public dental clinic. As there are approximately 400,000 patients on public dental waiting lists, Joanne has been waiting for over two years, around the average wait time for treatment. She is worried that her dental problems may worsen the longer she is required to wait.
To enable Joanne to get treatment more quickly the Government is committing $345.9 million over three years to undertake a public dental waiting list blitz. Her state dental service will now be able to provide treatment more quickly due to this assistance from the Commonwealth.
Investing over $500 million to strengthen public dental services
The state of your teeth should not be determined by how much you earn. Substantial unmet demand for state based public dental services means many low income earners miss out on the dental care they need.
That is why the Government is investing $515.3 million in a package of foundation activities as a significant step towards a better system of dental care. This includes $345.9 million for a public dental waiting list blitz to help deliver dental services to the estimated 400,000 people who are currently on state dental waiting lists.
The Government is also providing funding to support the provision of pro bono dental services. This will help the most disadvantaged in our community including Indigenous Australians, the homeless, women and children living in shelters, and refugees.
Average decayed, missing teeth by household income, Australia 2004–2006
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare