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Danny O’Brien said poor dental health is tied to cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications and mental health impacts

Gippslanders now face almost two-year waits for public dental care, with Danny O’Brien blaming a decade of Labor for doubled delays, escalating health risks and under-resourced regional clinics.

By news@gippsland - 28th November 2025 - Back to News

Gippslanders are waiting more than twice as long for public dental care than they were a decade ago. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said data obtained under Freedom of Information from Dental Health Services Victoria by the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch Inc reveals that average wait times for general public dental care in Gippsland have blown out from 10 months in 2014, when The Nationals were last in government, to 21.9 months as at July 2025 following a decade of Labor.

Danny O’Brien said underfunded dental services leave Gippsland clinics overwhelmed, residents waiting, highlighting Labor’s neglect of regional healthcare

Emergency dental pressure

Mr O’Brien said the figures confirm what Gippslanders already knew, that accessing basic dental care is now harder than ever for regional Victorians. "After 10 years of Labor, Gippslanders are now waiting more than twice as long to see a public dentist. It is obvious that improving access to dental care for Gippslanders is not a priority of the Allan Labor government," Mr O’Brien said.

Mr O’Brien said these excessive wait times are not just an inconvenience but a serious health risk. "When people can’t access timely general dental care, small problems escalate. Avoidable decay turns into infections, pain becomes chronic and people end up in hospital emergency departments with conditions that could have been prevented."

Mr O’Brien highlighted that poor dental health is closely linked to a range of non-dental health issues including cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications and mental health impacts. "Long delays in treatment only increase the likelihood of Gippslanders needing emergency care down the track."

Regional dental neglect

Mr O’Brien said the government’s failure to properly resource public dental services has left local clinics overwhelmed and residents with nowhere to turn. "Gippslanders deserve the same access to essential healthcare as people in Melbourne. It is disgraceful that instead, they are expected to wait almost two years for basic dental treatment."

"This is yet another example of Labor neglecting regional Victoria. Jacinta Allan can’t manage health, can’t manage dental care and it is Gippslanders who are left paying the price," he said. Mr O’Brien said he will continue to push the Allan Labor government to properly fund and prioritise regional dental services to ensure Gippslanders get the timely care they deserve.

Pictures from Oral Health Victoria Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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