John* is in his 60s and lives in a coastal town in Queensland. He and his wife last had dental work done around five years ago and were told they would be on the public system’s five-year waiting list unless they had serious tooth pain and required emergency treatment. If this emergency treatment was needed, only the tooth that was causing the pain would be treated.

Recently, John and his wife returned to the dentist because they had heard nothing. They were told that the five-year wait had extended to seven years and that at the moment the dentist was treating patients who had registered in 2003.

John explained that his teeth had started to crumble and his doctor had recommended that he get immediate dental treatment. The hospital said there was nothing they could do and recommended John go to a private dentist. John and his wife have no medical insurance.

John said “I understand that a private dentist would charge in excess of $5,000 to remedy my teeth. That is a luxury that we as age pensioners cannot afford.”

“The Government blurb is that there is only a two-year waiting list. What’s next?”

John and his wife want to see both major parties address the issue of dental health care before the election on 21 August.

*John has used an alternative name to protect his identity.