A 1 year wait for dentures?

[i-need-a-martini]

This woman had to wait 17 months which is outrageous. But then the article goes on to say that the wait is NORMALLY 1 year.

I didn't realise this the norm. 

I know that the public health system has this weird process whereas they will pay for you to go to a subsidised dentist to have all of your teeth removed if they are unstable or rotting. But surely this can be followed up immediately with replacement dentures? 

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/apology-for-woman-left-with-no-teeth-for-17-months-20140126...

[boris1gary]

martini, I can't find a single thing anywhere, the only thing is reference to increasing funding to dental health care when they can do it "responsibly" - call me a cynic but i think that means some time never.

[**meep**]

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@jean2579 wrote:

meep, when my OH asked about that, he was told that it no longer operated. Apparently it was very good.

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yes, the scheme hasn't operated for some time now.  (it was closed by the previous government)

[newstart2380]

Simple soluton

Clean your teeth and floss regularly and don't expect dentists to fix your laziness.

Join a private health fund particularly if you are working and don't rely on the public health system.

Go to Bali or Thailand where you can have anything done quickly, cheaply and from friends experience, very good job.

In conclusion - be responsible for the condition and care of your own teeth.

[newstart2380]

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@**meep** wrote:

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@jean2579 wrote:

meep, when my OH asked about that, he was told that it no longer operated. Apparently it was very good.

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yes, the scheme hasn't operated for some time now.  (it was closed by the previous government)

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Surely not the labor government hahahaha.

[**meep**]

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@boris1gary wrote:

martini, I can't find a single thing anywhere, the only thing is reference to increasing funding to dental health care when they can do it "responsibly" - call me a cynic but i think that means some time never.

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Try the Dept of Health and follow the links. 

[purple_haize]

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@newstart2380 wrote:

Simple soluton

Clean your teeth and floss regularly and don't expect dentists to fix your laziness.

Join a private health fund particularly if you are working and don't rely on the public health system.

Go to Bali or Thailand where you can have anything done quickly, cheaply and from friends experience, very good job.

In conclusion - be responsible for the condition and care of your own teeth.

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Some of us are on pensions (age) and cant afford private health care.

And who are you calling lazy?

Not everyone wants to go overseas to get their teeth done.....

[*mrgrizz*]

why would dentures be any different to any other non life threatening treatment required under medicare?

[purple_haize]

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@**meep** wrote:

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@jean2579 wrote:

meep, when my OH asked about that, he was told that it no longer operated. Apparently it was very good.

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yes, the scheme hasn't operated for some time now.  (it was closed by the previous government)

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That is true that plan has stopped for teeth, but you can still get them done if you have a problem or if you are aged, they do them quicker, all you have to do is ring either the comm. health or the dental hospt.

This is in Vic.

[bright.ton42]

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@purple_haize wrote:

In Vic. if you go to the comm. dental place, say you have a toothache and they cant fit you in, they will give you a voucher and a list of dentists that are in the scheme, and you can go to one on the list and all you pay is $25.

My daughter last week, got a letter from govt. saying that her two children aged 9yrs and 3yrs, could have any dental work done over a period of 2 years and there was a voucher for both kids of $1000 each.

Now I dont know if that is for everyone or only for kids that have problems, my daughter is carer to both kids.

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Maybe your daughter is on a carer's pension or pension of some sort ? that would entitle her to the govt subsidies?  

[**meep**]

Not the case in NSW.   The waiting time for public clinics esp in West Syd can literally be years.