TWO-YEAR DENTAL WAIT
Dental wait slammed
THE Australian Dental Association has slammed public dentist waiting times in Geelong, saying some patients are waiting more than 30 months to get treatment.
On top of this, the association’s head claims once they have seen a dentist, patients have to wait 12 months to get back on the waiting list — sometimes leading to a fouryear wait between dental visits.
Victorian branch chief executive officer Associate Professor Matthew Hopcraft said wait times were unacceptable and has questioned the government’s move to roll out kids dental vans, saying vulnerable adults are the most in need.
April data provided by the association reveals patients in the Barwon region are waiting an average of 32.4 months to see a dentist — more than 12 months longer than the average Victorian wait time.
“One of the problems that is hidden is that when people get off the waiting list they then have to wait 12 months to go on the waiting list again,” Prof Hopcraft said. “They would be waiting nearly four years between dental appointments to have simple care.”
Prof Hopcraft said this wait period meant dentists were missing the window of opportunity to provide preventive care, which meant vulnerable people were more like to develop complex diseases.
“Ideally we would be catching things early and catching them when they are small and don’t need intervention,” he said. “Some of those things become huge problems and people get caught up in a cycle of emergency care.”
The city has four public dental clinics — operated by Barwon Health — which are in Belmont, Newcomb, Bell Park and Corio. Barwon Health’s oral health service director Associate Professor Michael Smith said the service’s general waitlist had decreased to 22 months since 2018.
He said additional funding from Dental Health Services Victoria had helped the provider streamline emergency management demand.
“We recognise it can be stressful to wait for treatment and we’re working with the State Government to improve access across the region,” Prof Smith said.
“The State Government has funded a free dental program for primary school-aged children, with a preventive approach to improve dental outcomes into adulthood.
“People who require urgent dental care can access the daily ‘open emergency sessions’ at our Belmont, Corio or Newcomb Community Dental Clinics.”
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the State Government had done all it could to address public dental waiting lists but needed assistance from the Federal Government.
“We are delivering free dental in Victorian state schools to ensure kids can get the dental care they need, families can save on time and money, and more dental appointments are freed-up for adults,” Ms Mikakos said. “The first of our free dental vans will hit schools in the coming months and Barwon South will be one of their first stops.”