Survey finds Aust in dental care crisis
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has released survey results that show nearly half of Australians believe they cannot afford basic dental treatment.
ACOSS says the research shows dental care in Australia is in crisis, with the poor and disadvantaged the worst affected. The revelations came soon after the Federal Opposition called on the Government to put more money into dental care instead of taking over state hospitals.
The ACOSS survey found nearly a quarter of Australians have not seen a dentist for more than two years.
Nearly half those surveyed said it would be difficult to come up with the $300 needed for basic preventive treatment, and cost influenced their decision to see a dentist regularly.
The research also revealed: 46% of people stated that the cost of dental care influences their decision to see a dentist regularly; 23% of people say they haven’t seen a dentist in more than two years; 75% of people believe the Federal Government must at least share the funding for dental care; only 5% think it is a state government responsibility alone.