"Dentist availability"

I am writing to submit a complaint about the lack of remote dental services.

On Thursday I lost the crown on my back tooth.This had happened previously when I lived in Northern Rivers NSW. When it happened in the past and in a different state, it was fixed within the week.

On that day I reached out to Kununurra Dental. Their long term, permanent dentist had recently retired at the end of 2024 and the dental clinic was relying on FIFO dentists. The one at the clinic could not fashion crowns on site, and was only there for the week. I attended the clinic on the following day, had xrays and my teeth cleaned. The dentist advised getting the tooth fixed asap so I called and enquired to the other nearby dentists- Katherine NT who doesn't have a dentist, Fitzroy Crossing who no longer has a dentist, and then Broome which do not fashion crowns on site and I would have to wait for one from Perth (like I would with the Kununurra dentist). I had the option to fly to Darwin or Perth to have the tooth fixed- although as I had just moved up the cost and timing were prohibitive (I was due to start work on the following week in my new job as a remote outback teacher).

I attended the Kununurra Dentist on the following Thursday. Due to the fact that no temporary cap was put on my tooth I had significant gum growth up my tooth. This required a very long time in the chair having my gum cut and burnt back. They tried to get a clear scan of my tooth to determine if they could fashion a crown on the day- but due to excessive bleeding of my gums, I was unable to have this. And after 3+ scans they were able to control the bleeding and get a clear scan to send away for my crown to be made off site in Perth. The dentist fashioned a temporary cap to cover the tooth.

On the Thursday 2 weeks later, I attended Kununurra Dental Clinic and had my new cap placed. I also had a filling done. The FIFO dentist was leaving the next day. I have tooth sensitivity to cold and my gum is still sore.

As a teacher in Halls Creek which is over 3 hours away- that was many hours of driving, sick days and waiting. The Halls Creek visiting dental service is not back in town until May. I have spoken to two other people who are waiting for appointments for May at Halls Creek- both with tooth pain and on antibiotics while they wait.

I was speaking to an Elder at Frog Hollow community near Warmun who said the travelling dental service used to stop in at the Purnululu School and check the children's teeth. But that the funding for this had been stopped. She credited that service for catching a serious dental issue in her grandson that had resulted in surgery in Perth. Now without it she wondered how many children's teeth issues go undiagnosed.

The lack of dentists, clinics and dental care in the Kimberley is appalling, in my opinion- leaving people waiting in pain, travelling long distances and potentially exacerbating conditions.

I am appealing for a review into the dental services (or lack their of) in the Kimberley. I am appealing for funding for more regular dental visits to communities such as Frog Hollow, as well as dentists based in Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing.

If we are taking the Closing the Gap targets seriously, we must in turn take dental care seriously. Teeth and jaw issues impact whole body health including heart health and longevity.

I am privileged to have experienced high quality dental care in other locations, so can compare the serious lack of services in the Kimberley. While others who live here may take this as 'all they can get'.