Costs and long wait times appear to be putting people off going to the dentist. 

Oral healthcare providers say treatment seems to be getting less financially attainable for clients. 

Dental practitioner Ammaarah Patel says COVID-19 exacerbated many health problems for her clients.

“We had a rise in tooth decay due to dietary changes, and there were a lot of patients reporting clenched jaws with pain and discomfort due to psychological stress,” she recently told the ABC. 

“In practice and from first-hand experience, I have seen more decayed, missing and filled teeth in individuals from CALD communities.

“I have also seen a low level of health literacy, dental education, and awareness of dental resources.”

She noted that including dentistry under Medicare would ensure a “higher quality of life and overall welling” for all Australians.

“It would make dentistry less prohibitive to access,” Dr Patel says.

The Federal Government is reportedly working with states and territories to find a solution to improve dental funding, with a report due by mid-2023 by the National Dental Reform Working Group.