University student Ava Veres faces debilitating wisdom tooth pain but cannot afford a dental appointment. "I have been dreading even looking at that because it's just not really on the cards for me," she stated. Living in a share house in Brisbane, Veres now bears all her own expenses, a common burden for young people navigating a system that commodifies basic health.
Her struggle reflects a widespread crisis. A national consumer survey by the Australian Dental Association (ADA), conducted less than one year ago, found 60 percent of adults aged 18 to 25 suffer from wisdom tooth-related issues. These include pain, swelling, crowding, infection, and general discomfort. The problem is even more acute in remote areas, where 65 percent reported such issues, compared to 59 percent in metropolitan centers.
ADA Vice President Angie Nilsson observes that many young adults are "falling through the cracks" in oral health care. They've often moved out of their family homes and lost access to parents' private health insurance. This structural gap leaves them exposed to the full cost of a privatized health system.
Law student Ryan Quigley echoed this sentiment, stating that dental visits are "not the highest priority" given his other living expenses. He believes care "definitely needs to become more affordable, especially for young people making the transition... out of home." His friend, finance student Maksim Krilov, pointed directly to the exorbitant cost of general dental check-ups for many young people. Krilov argued that "Medicare, in general, I think needs to cover more," highlighting the systemic failure to provide universal health access.
The Cost of Commodification
The market's grip on health forces young Australians to delay essential care. Nilsson warned that delaying visits means problems become "more painful, more complex, and more expensive to treat." This cycle ensures greater profits for the dental industry when conditions worsen. The survey also revealed that 60 percent of young adults are now making dental health decisions based on social media trends. This includes purchasing unverified whitening products, veneers, and aligners online. Nilsson cautioned against these practices, noting they often lack professional oversight and can cause significant damage. The system, by denying affordable access, pushes individuals towards risky, unregulated alternatives.
The consequences extend beyond pain. Only 38 percent of young adults playing high-impact sports wear mouthguards, according to the ADA survey. This neglect leads to preventable injuries, with 13 percent of young adults having already experienced a sports-related injury involving their teeth or mouth. Nilsson described the potential damage from not having a custom-made mouthguard as "devastating," yet the cost barrier remains.
The State's Role in Neglect
Despite the clear and growing crisis, the state has consistently failed to act. West Australian Senator Jordon Steele-John, the dental spokesperson for the Australian Greens, confirmed that his party, alongside "dentists, experts, community advocates," has called for decades to integrate dental care into the publicly funded Medicare system. "Yet we've seen government after government fail to take the action that is needed," Steele-John stated, directly criticizing the current Labor government for not doing "enough in this area."
The Albanese government's response offers little hope for structural change. A spokesperson acknowledged that "oral health is fundamental to overall health," but offered only vague commitments. The government claims to make "a significant funding contribution through the National Health Reform Agreement for public hospital services." It also stated it is "working closely with states and territories" to develop a new National Oral Health Plan. These reformist gestures, however, do not address the fundamental issue of dental care remaining a commodity, inaccessible to those struggling with wage suppression and rising living costs. The state continues to manage the symptoms without challenging the profit motive at the core of the problem.
The ADA's comprehensive survey, which informed these findings, gathered data from 25,000 respondents aged 18 and older. It utilized focus groups, phone interviews, and online surveys to capture the full scope of the crisis.