Mother left with bleeding gums, holes in teeth as dental costs take their toll

Skyrocketing costs adversely affect New Zealanders who cannot afford dental care.

A significant proportion – including those in well-paid jobs – are suffering the consequences of avoiding the dentist as the unaffordability takes its toll.

From toothache to broken teeth and abscesses – the stories have poured into the world Herald of the painful health conditions that families endure over time.

A report last year found that 40 per cent of New Zealanders – including 50 per cent of the Māori and Pasifika population – have an unmet need for dental care due to cost.

Tooth is told commissioned by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, it was further found that about a quarter of a million New Zealand adults have had their teeth removed due to tooth decay.

Christchurch mum Nikita struggled with postpartum depression after her first and second child.

Stories have poured into the Herald about the painful health problems families have long faced.

For the now mother of three, self-care was not a high priority at the time, but simply getting through each day.

“The last thing on my mind was thinking about brushing my teeth every day, never mind not wanting to get out of bed sometimes because of the way I felt. My teeth were absolutely broken because of this.”

Nikita was left with bleeding gums, plaque buildup, falling out fillings and multiple holes in her teeth.

She went to the dentist two years ago because of an abscess under her gums when trying to cut her wisdom teeth.

She said she waited three weeks for an emergency appointment while in “excruciating” pain and a swollen face.

“It was the worst because you obviously already feel bad about having postpartum depression and feel awful with yourself, let alone feel ashamed that you let your teeth get so bad”.

While she said she was initially able to pay $280 for the first appointment through a Q Card, she was unable to afford the two follow-up appointments.

Fast-forward two years, she still can’t afford to go back and still faces pain and tenderness.

“In terms of daily dental care, I think it should be free… they talk about how important dental hygiene is to everyday life and health.

A report last year found that 40 percent of Kiwis have an unmet need for dental care due to cost.

But if it’s supposedly so important, why aren’t they prioritizing it?”

Another full-time working Christchurch mum agrees that the costs are “completely unrealistic” for ordinary families.

She said there are other living expenses that should be prioritized — including mortgage, groceries, bills, kids’ activities and school.

“You avoid preventive care, and if something does go wrong, it is so priceless”.

While she wouldn’t consider herself a low-income job, she points out that if she can’t afford to prioritize going, the costs must have a significant impact on lower-paid families.

“It really has to be completely out of reach. Even when they are in pain.”

The 38-year-old has had a whopping four teeth pulled due to an infection and has been paying ongoing expenses ever since he contributed $4,000 toward an ACC-related dental implant.

Across the board, a wide range of ages have been affected as annual inflation remains high.

In January, Stats NZ reported that the consumer price index had risen 7.2 percent in the 12 months to December 2022.

But the Otago University Students’ Association is concerned that cost isn’t the only issue causing students to delay dental checkups.

Finance and Strategy Officer Emily Fau-Goodwin said bad experiences have affected some students as well.

Some told her that while they felt their teeth were in good health, their dentist was forcing them into unnecessary dental work.

“I am an international student myself, and I speak to other international students who prefer to have their dental work done when they return home, rather than having it done in New Zealand. ”

Fau-Goodwin said a student was told they may have to pay up to $9,000 for a medical bridging procedure because of a technology upgrade.

The Otago University Students’ Association is concerned that cost isn’t the only issue causing students to delay dental checkups.

She said the same student went back to their home country only to be informed unless they wanted to spend more money they wouldn’t need an upgrade for quite a few years.

Fau-Goodwin believes that the price, plus this kind of experience, puts people off and affects their health in the longer term.

In Dunedin, students provide dental care through the University of Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry at a cost that is generally lower than private practice because the treatment takes longer and more visits are required.

The dean of the faculty, Professor Paul Cooper, said services are in high demand due to the cost of private practice, along with waiting lists of patients to be treated after Covid-19.

For New Zealand’s elderly community, healthcare in general is a major concern, said Karen Billings-Jensen, CEO of Age Concern.

“One of the big things is that bad teeth or bad dentures can have a huge impact on healthy eating and the ability to easily get the good foods that actually help keep us healthy.”

Billings-Jensen said travel can be a barrier in addition to cost for some older adults.

While she acknowledges there are some discounts for SuperGold or Community Services Cardholders, the cost is still a barrier.

She said the longer communities go without seeking dental help, the more destructive it can be to their overall health.

Should free dental care be pushed as an election issue?

Before former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation, she told the Newsroom that while everyone would love free dental care, it is extremely expensive.

In a report to NewsHub in 2020, the Department of Health estimated that the cost of expanding free adult dental care would reach $648 million per year.

The New Zealand Dental Association, previously aware of the government’s budgetary demands, proposed a step-by-step approach to reach those most in need first.

This finally came to fruition during Budget 2022 – and dental grants for low-income families rose from $300 to $1000.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern initially told the Newsroom that while everyone would love free dental care, it is extremely expensive. Photo/Getty Images

The president of the association, Dr. Katie Ayers, said funding hadn’t increased since the early 1990s.

“We saw that as a very big win. Still just one step, but a very big step that we hadn’t seen in decades.”

Next, the government proposed to increase funding for low-income adults aged 18 to 24.

“Dental care is free up to age 18 and once people turn 18 often, they don’t go to the dentist for a long time after that,” Ayers said.

She emphasizes that it would particularly support Maori and Pasifika, young parents, and also have a spillover effect on their children.

“We haven’t heard the government talk about it at this stage, so that would probably be the point we’d push for next.”

Other New Zealanders seem to be on the same page when it comes to promoting free dental care.

Nikita said that in an ideal world free dental care would be “fantastic”, but that even partial funding for more New Zealanders would be a step forward.

Another Christchurch parent agrees that this should be prioritized, especially as oral health is linked to other physical health.

But Fau-Goodwin said whether it should be an election issue is a tough question to answer, though more government intervention and improvement would be needed.

“It’s just too expensive to fund dental care, but even subsidizing it, I think it would be beneficial.”

But Billings-Jensen said the issue needs to be viewed broadly and that a subsidy is not the only solution.