Dental stalemate

Poor Australians are resorting to do-it-yourself dentistry, including filing their own teeth and attempting their own extractions, because of lengthy queues for public dental services, according to a report in The Australian newspaper.

Graham Long, pastor and chief executive of the Wayside Chapel in Sydney, said he sees “black, ulcerated mouths” every day in his job.

A spokeswoman for Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, acknowledges that “access to dental services is a problem”. She said the Government is offering teenagers free dental check-ups, and blames the Opposition for blocking the roll-out of a million extra services under the planned commonwealth dental health program.

But Prue Power, executive director of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, which represents public health services, said the sector has lost patience with the buck-passing over the election pledge. More than a year has passed since the Senate defeat but the matter has yet to return to parliament for negotiation.

“It is not acceptable for low income earners and pensioners to continue to miss out due to the inflexibility of the Government and the Senate to reach agreement on implementing the best solution possible,” Ms Power said.