A 55-year-old woman in Tasmania has lost all her teeth after years of being unable to afford dental care, highlighting a growing crisis in Australia's oral health system. Tara, who asked to use only her first name, said she lost her teeth 'one by one' due to gum disease and poor-quality treatment from cheap dentists. She waited seven years for a public dental appointment, and after her remaining teeth were removed in 2023, she is still waiting for dentures.
Tara's diet is now limited to Weet-Bix, eggs and smoothies, leaving her underweight and deficient in iron, vitamin D and B12. She says the tooth loss has destroyed her mental health, making her too self-conscious to socialise or visit her sons in Sydney. 'I can't go out. I can't socialise because I just don't have any self-confidence,' she said.
Tara's experience is not unique, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report, released on Friday, found that almost one in five adults (18%) delayed or did not see a dental professional in 2022-23 due to cost. Only half of all adults visited a dentist in the past year, a figure that has remained stable for a decade.
The AIHW report highlights a two-tiered system, with those in disadvantaged areas far less likely to access care. In the most disadvantaged areas, only 42% visited a dentist, compared to 65% in the least disadvantaged. Indigenous Australians are disproportionately affected, with 6% reporting complete tooth loss and nearly half losing at least one tooth.
Poor oral health can lead to lasting physical and psychological disability, the report warns, and can exacerbate conditions like heart disease. In 2021, 44% of Australians reported feeling uncomfortable due to dental problems, up from 20% in 1994. Jason, a 39-year-old in a sales role, is spending $8,000 from his emergency savings on laser surgery for gum disease, fearing that gaps in his teeth could cost him his job.
