REDLAND Dental Clinic is bracing for the end of the federal government's Chronic Disease Dental Scheme next week, with an expected public waiting list blowout looming.
From Friday, next week, no Medicare benefits will be paid for dental services provided under the scheme, which started in 1986.
The scheme gave those with a chronic disease access to Medicare benefits for most services provided by dentists, dental specialists or dental prosthetists in private dental surgeries.
Under the scheme, patients with a doctor's referral to a dentist were eligible for $4250 worth of dental treatment over two years.
Federal MP for Bowman Andrew Laming said stopping the scheme would affect waiting lists at Redland and was adding to Queensland's dental health crisis.
Mr Laming said only 11 per cent of patients on the Redland Hospital public dental waiting list were treated within recommended timeframes.
"In October, there were 1647 general dental care patients who had not been treated within recommended timeframes at Redland Hospital," he said.
"But there were only 24 patients removed from the waiting list because they received public dental care that month.
"With the end of the Chronic Disease Dental scheme, patients will have to pay for their own dental services and that is going to deter a lot of people from getting the adequate treatment.
"In Redland, unless you are in diabolical dental distress with pain, infection or trauma, you can expect a two to five-year wait for basic dental care."
Metro South Oral Health Service executive director Dr Elizabeth Holder said waiting lists for non-emergency cases were "lengthy" but the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme's demise would not affect emergency cases at Redland.
"At the Redland Hospital Oral Health Clinci, approximately 67 to 77 per cent of patients seen each day are emergency patients," she said.
"There is a high demand for public dental services within the Redland catchment area and waiting times for non-emergency services can be lengthy."
Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek failed to return calls but has denied claims there would be no federal funding for general dental care for the next 14 months.
Birkdale dentist Steven Liu said axing the scheme was cause for concern for those with chronic diseases who couldn't afford private health cover.
Mr Liu said pensioners would be the most affected after the scheme ended, when he expected an initial surge in waiting lists.
"Pensioners, and those with health care cards, will have the choice of paying to see a private dentist or going into the public system, which is of concern because that means sitting on waiting lists, which are already too long," he said.
