Millions are delaying dental care — and there's no national plan to fix it

Emily Novo had put off seeing the dentist because she was worried about the cost. Then an abscess became so painful she ended up in a hospital emergency department.She's not alone. More than two million Australians have skipped dental care because they can't afford it, and one in three has untreated tooth decay, according to the Australian Dental Association (ADA).This week, a delegation of 40 dentists is in Canberra calling on the federal government to release a long-delayed National Oral Health Plan, and fund it in full.The ADA says oral health can't sit outside mainstream health policy any longer, and a national plan is needed to improve access and affordability.