Patients told to wait seven years for a dental check-up in Australia
A consumer group has revealed that patients in some parts of Australia are being forced to wait up to seven years for a routine dental check-up.
A lobby group said that patients in Queensland are facing an incredibly long wait for routine dental appointments, which could have serious implications for their oral health. The town of Bundaberg is said to be amongst the worst-affected.
Representatives from the Queensland Health Board said that the length of the wait depended on the individual case; different waiting lists are set up for patients who require different treatments, with waiting lists longest for general check-ups and routine treatments.
Dr Ian Meyers, from the Australian Dental Association, said that waiting lists varied according to the treatment required by the patient; patients who need emergency treatment are often seen within 24 hours and seven years is not a fair reflection of the wait for dental treatment across Australia. Nevertheless, Dr Meyers stressed that the problem of lengthy waiting lists must be dealt with as a priority by the incoming government. For many years now, dentists and patient consumer groups have criticised political parties for failing to tackle oral health issues and allowing waiting lists to increase significantly.
Lengthy waiting lists for routine check-ups can increase the likelihood of the patient developing a serious oral health problem before they see a dentist; routine check-ups allow dentists to keep an eye on a patient’s general oral health and treat early symptoms of conditions such as gum disease and cavities. If patients have to wait years for a check-up, it is very likely that they will have developed a condition, which could have otherwise been prevented.
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I am a registered NZ dentist with 20 years experience in all aspects of Dentistry and would like to apply for a position in Australia