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I recently went to the doctors regarding my teeth. I have aggressive gum disease and my teeth are falling out. This was not considered Chronic enough to claim the medicare rebate. Will now have to find the money to pay for my dental work. It's no wonder people resort to trying to fix the problems themselves.
Posted by Juliette from NSW on 24/06/2010 12:19:01 PM
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i have had a plate in my mouth since i was 13 witch has split in half.it is either way to expensive or i just cant get in to see a dentist.my teeth are all going black and i am in pain most of the time.it is so exspensive that im finding it hard now to even get my kids in to the dentist.
Posted by maree from QLD on 24/06/2010 1:41:50 PM
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Hi everyone-there is help provided by our Government for Dental treatment few of us know about it.
If you happen to be one of the many that has been diagnosed and suffer ''a chronic illness'', ask your GP to fill out an EPC Form. This 'Enhanced Primary Care Program Referral For Dental Care under Medicare' or EPC once approved is a Government Grant and gives your local Dentist immediate funds totalling $4,200 to be spent over two years.
You will pay the gap for treatment but for example, I had one tooth removed two fillings replaced, the cost to me was $60. The same treatment at the same Dentist without the EPC grant cost well over $400.
This is not a Government secret it is a GP secret. It takes the GP more time to fill out the form that he/she wants to spend-but they are available in all States.
After waiting for years in a queue at the Hospital Based Dental Clinic and then only ever had teeth pulled out that were always saveable I now enjoy the luxury of active dentistry, that means the Dentist cares to take the time needed to repair rather than pull !
A chronic illness might mean diagnosed depression,chronic pain, perhaps you had cancer and it left your teeth in a mess, there are many conditions-speak to your GP today-you will be smiling again by tomorrow ! Goodluck
Posted by Dawn from NSW on 26/06/2010 4:59:29 PM
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I have lost a lot of my teeth through not being able to pay for dental check ups, about 4 years ago I had to have part dentures because I could bearly eat having no molars to chew alot of food. I ended up taking out a loan which I havent finished paying off yet and I need new dentures already and can't afford it.
Posted by Lesley from VIC on 29/06/2010 7:27:28 PM
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I believe everyone should be entitled to Dental Care,the amount of G.S.T. ,Medicare levy etc should enable the government to provide emergency dental work. Dawns article was very interesting in that dental problems could have an underlying problem.getting the form and going to the doctor could save a life.
Posted by Neil from WA on 30/06/2010 3:53:35 PM
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Dental Work is just so expensive that many people put off making that appointment, even though they may be in pain, particularly those on low incomes. More dentists and other dental specialists are urgently needed, so that more clinics can be established. Dental problems can cause other health problems, eg: heart problems.
Posted by Yvonne from VIC on 30/06/2010 10:12:30 PM
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I signed the petition knowing that the charges made are rediculous. For an extract 200 dollars!
In Spain it is free. I was also diagnosed with gum desiese, 1000 dollars later, I will now leave it all to fate. Is it really cheaper to have them all out and a plate put in?
Posted by Rebecca from QLD on 1/07/2010 2:58:03 PM
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I can't believe people, especially those with families and on low incomes have to make a choice in this regard. I can't believe some people have to choose not ot take themselves or their children to have dental check ups or work done due to cost. It's outrageous and an insult that people should not have ot endure!
Posted by Bernice from VIC on 4/07/2010 8:27:48 PM
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I would love to know why dentists charge so much? Where does the expense come from? Is it the equipment or is it just greed? I know many people that need dental work done but can't afford to go to the dentist. I am also one of those people to the point of getting an abscess on my gum from a half tooth that needs extracting.
Posted by Sue from QLD on 7/07/2010 3:05:56 PM
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I can only agree that the cost of Dental Care is prohibitive even when you have private insurance as I do.What I pay for insurance versus what I receive back for treatment is a joke.I am a chronic grinder and as a consequence of this require a crown.The last one I had costy me over $1,600 and I only received around $500 all up from my insurance company.This stings! We pay enormous taxes we should receive some benefit towards our dental care as keaving teeth to rot etc causes other long term problems.
Posted by Gabrielle from WA on 7/07/2010 7:55:09 PM
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We are lucky enough to have private health insurance, which costs a fortune, but even with it covering Dental work, the gap that it doesn't cover is ridiculous! We avoid the dentist because we can't afford it.
Posted by Tina from VIC on 9/07/2010 8:21:00 AM
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Ithink everyone in this country deserves help with dental care what is with these dentists the prices they charge i am a single working mum through no choice of my own i cannot afford to go to a dentist for myself but the waiting for free dental lists is beyond a joke
Posted by robyn from NSW on 9/07/2010 7:32:44 PM
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Hi guys, i agree with All comments but there is a lot to be said about educating australians on the importance of regular checkups (to avoid the major work needed on neglected teeth). It's an investment people often neglect. It is expensive to run a dental practice (I used to work at one) and with insurance etc the cost can be expensive. Government def néed to address this issue and also
educating people on good oral health. I found this page
which might help? http://www.albertsquaredental.com.au/GeneralCleaning.html
Good luck: good cause!
Posted by Katie from VIC on 19/07/2010 4:20:23 PM
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Working people find that dental care is unaffordable too. If you earn a basic wage and are not entitled to a heath care card and don't have private insurance, because that too is unaffordable, you simply go without dental care.We are not low income earners, we work in factories for very modest wages and can not afford to see dentists regularly.
Posted by pam from VIC on 19/07/2010 9:26:37 PM
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I have also been diagnosed with gum disease. Am going to have to get a personal loan to cover treatment - around $3000
Posted by Lynne from NSW on 21/07/2010 1:56:30 PM
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As someone who has a very agressive gum disease Most of my teeth are rotting away & i can not afford to go to the local dentist im on the public waiting list still have a long time to wait i have constent pain from my teeth & couldnt tell you the last time i smiled in a photo & i try & hide it when talking to someone . ive spoken to my local dentist to see if i can pay him some money on a weekly bases but they wont do that . i just want my teeth fixed so i can smile again & not be in pain
Posted by Tammy from VIC on 26/07/2010 9:07:31 PM
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I suffered from bulimia and anorexia for 10 years. Although I am now recovered (after taking out a $25,000 personal loan to put myself through treatment), I am still suffering the after effects (and financial struggles) due to loss of enamel on my teeth etc. I have been quoted $13,000 to get my teeth fixed (as i need almost a full mouth of crowns done), but cannot even afford $1,000 - I am constantly in pain and my teeth continue to break off :( As if its not bad enough to suffer through 10 years of depression, anxiety and an eating disorder and rise above it with no support... I now have a constant reminder every day as I once again struggle to eat and drink... but this time due to the pain caused by my dental problems!
Posted by amanda from VIC on 28/07/2010 12:14:44 AM
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I am another who is on the waiting list to no-where. I have top dentures and a gum disease that means my remaining bottom teeth are all lose and i am only able to eat soft foods. I had a severe tooth ache a few months ago and when i arrived at the Government owned dentist which i thought was there for people like me who are on Centerlink payments, i was told that there were no appointments even though the waiting room was empty and it was only 5 minutes after opening time. The gentleman in front of me who was employed was told to take a seat and wait as he had no appointment but need to get to work as soon as possible. I was given the option to attend a private dentist for one appointment only and accepted as i had been in pain all weekend. when I attended said dentist I was told the only appointment they had was 4 days away and had to wait till then event thought i was in severe pain. Needless to say by the time they got to my tooth there was a large abscess formed and it took quite a few needles to deaden my mouth to extract the tooth. II have severe gum problems and my few remaining bottom teeth are loose and rotten my top dentures are kept in by glue and when asked about the time frame i was told about 10 years. I would love to be able to eat something but soft mash and better still be able to smile for once in my life without being self conscious
Posted by maryann from TAS on 29/07/2010 8:21:19 AM
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I have a 16 yr old son who has 4 teeth growing out of the top of his gums at the front of his mouth. It hurts and causes him great embarrassment.
A couple of months ago I used the teenage medicare dental voucher (worth UP TO $157) to take him to the dentist to find out how much the removal of these teeth would cost.
The dentist made me pay $157 up front, couldn't understand why this was a problem and why I had to reschedule the appointment to a week where I HAD that money to pay up front and then refused to assist with information on what was required and instead referred us to an ORTHODONTIST!!! Needless to say the poor lad still has all those teeth.
It's time our taxes started going toward our kids.
Posted by Leanne from QLD on 10/08/2010 8:13:42 PM
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I have just recently had a root canal and now need a crown. I was told the crown will cost approximately $1450 but most health insurance companies pay around half that amount. I called my health insurance company only to be told that they will only pay $300, leaving me to pay the $1150. A ridiculous amount of money to pay when I'm a low income earner, already paying over $120 a month for private health cover and rarely claim for anything as I'm hardly sick or injured!
Posted by Tanya from SA on 11/08/2010 8:46:44 PM
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3 years ago I underwent 5 months of very aggressive chemotherapy. Besides all the horrible side effects, it damaged my teeth, with my eye tooth breaking at the base of the gum. Consequently I have a huge gap in my teeth, and what remains of the tooth is going black. This looks unsightly and also embarassing,so it is not often that I smile or have my photo taken, I often talk with my hand over my mouth. Something really has to be done about our dental system, this is really getting me down.
Posted by Dianne from WA on 12/08/2010 11:08:47 AM
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i have a molar that has broken off so much over the last few months there is hardly anything left of it & its black, i also have holes & my gums bleed every time i brush.
even though i am in constant pain & taking very strong pain killers when i rang for appointments at the public clinic, i was told there was no appointments available.
then my mum told me about the government Enhanced Primary Care Program.
there are conditions about this program.
If you happen to be one of the many that has been diagnosed and suffer ''a chronic illness'', ask your GP to fill out an EPC Form. This 'Enhanced Primary Care Program Referral For Dental Care under Medicare' or EPC once approved is a Government Grant and gives your local Dentist immediate funds totalling $4,200 to be spent over two years.
you also have to have at least 3 specialist treating you.
i suffer from constant back pain, i have type 2 diabetes & i suffer from depression, so i am lucky enough to have been granted for the EPC.
i have an appointment with a private dentist next week so fingers crossed my mouth will be pain free from then on.
good luck to everyone who apply for the EPC program.
Posted by LEAHANNE from NSW on 14/08/2010 5:35:47 AM
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I needed my wisdom teeth out and after waiting 3 years on the waiting list for my appointment, i ended up having 10% of my jaw rot along with the original tooth, They had to remove the lot and now i need $2'700 worth of plastic surgery to fix my mouth, as the best the dental hospital could do was sew my cheek to my jaw to hold it together till i can afford the plastic surgery...That was in 2004 and I'm still saving and waiting. In the end It hasn't saved me any money at all, if anything it is now worse and the bill will continue to rise while I save.
It is sad that dental care is not seen as a health issue or concern even though it can cause other medical problems and in some cases it has even caused death. it should be treated like any other medical condition and taken more seriously.
Posted by Michelle from VIC on 15/08/2010 5:10:08 PM
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michelle from victoria: go to your doctor & find out if you are able to go through the government Enhanced Primary Care Program to get help. you shouldnt have had to wait so long, this is just disgusting. i hope you get the help you deserve.
Posted by LEAHANNE from NSW on 20/08/2010 7:13:27 AM
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It's post election time now, but jus tto let everyone know, The Greens want to create Denticare - a dental health program along the same lines as Medicare. Let's see this this gets up and running. Labor got this idea from The Greens, just to let you know ;)
Posted by Catherine from NSW on 26/08/2010 2:04:30 PM
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