Dental crisis calls

The number of students graduating in dentistry has fallen to levels not seen since the 1950s, leading to calls for a major boost in university funding.

With up to 650,000 people on waiting lists for publicly funded dental care, the Australian Dental Association has attacked the Howard Government for failing to properly fund dental education.

It has warned that young dentists were now unwilling to work in the public sector because they needed the higher pay offered by the private sector to cover their massive student debts.

To add to concerns about dental services, a recent Newspoll survey shows that many Australians endured chronic dental problems because they could not afford to get them fixed.

The vast majority also believed dental health is a national disgrace. More than 90% of the 1,200 people surveyed said dentist bills should be treated no differently to other medical expenses and covered under Medicare.