Paying pain triggers hospital queues and DIY dentistry
Desperate Kiwis are queuing at hospital pain clinics because they can’t afford the dentist — and health bosses are now backing free dental care.
Waitemata¯ District Health Board wants a “comprehensive dental service for all New Zealanders”, chief executive Dr Dale Bramley confirmed to the Herald.
The position comes amidst growing concern among health workers about people who can’t afford hefty dentists’ bills and live in chronic pain as a result, with some resorting to gruesome “DIY dentistry”.
The issue was outlined in recently published minutes from Auckland and Waitemata¯ DHBs’ community and public health advisory group.
Hospital pain clinics have long queues for temporary fillings or teeth extractions, the meeting noted, and people are turning up at emergency departments because of dental pain.
Members discussed whether boards should call on the Government for subsidised or free dentistry.
Bramley told the meeting the Ministry of Health was “already considering how the dental service could be included in the public health service”.
The committee recommended the DHBs “support a comprehensive dental care access for all New Zealanders as part of public health system”.
Bramley said Waitemata¯ DHB would back that.
Grant Pollard, the ministry’s group manager for population health, denied work was being done on possible changes to publicly funded dental care but “this may be looked at again following the outcome of the health and disability sector review”.
That wide-ranging review is chaired by Heather Simpson, a former chief of staff to Helen Clark. An interim report is due by the end of July.
Any move to provide more subsidised or free dental care would carry a huge cost. About $198 million a year is spent on oral health services already, with most covering universal services for children and teenagers.
Adults must pay the full cost. A survey last year found the average cost for an examination only was $76, a single extraction was $229, and $203 for a two-surface filling.
Kiwis without enough money live
[NZ has] huge unmet need in dental care. David Clark, Health Minister
in chronic pain that affects work, quality of life, and mental and wider health. Gum disease increases the risk of heart disease, and poor oral health increases the chances of bacterial infection in the bloodstream.
About one in three Kiwis have untreated tooth decay, the last comprehensive oral health survey in 2009 found. Almost half of adults had avoided routine dental treatment in the previous year, because of cost.
Health Minister David Clark said there was “huge unmet need in dental care” — but there wouldn’t be significant reform this side of the 2020 general election.