The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) says there is a need for more education and awareness in rural areas about good dental care.
The RFDS operates a mobile dental service in partnership with QCoal, travelling to rural and remote towns.
It is in Jundah this week where two surgeries are being run from a purpose-built truck, powered by a generator.
Dentist Dr Ian Odendaal says access to services is a challenge for remote residents, with some people reporting they have not seen a dentist for 20 years.
“The furthest was an eight-hour drive and people quite frequently drove four to five hours from some of the stations – in some of the towns we go to people come in from the stations,” he said.
“A lot of people are quite frightened of the dentist, they are just too glad to get out, however, we have had some really grateful patients.”
Dr Odendaal says while some rural patients have good teeth, others have suffered due to a lack of available services.
“I think so yes. One of the worst I have seen was a patient that I had to take all his teeth out in two sittings, so 32 teeth,” he said.
“He had about 10 abscesses, so he had been in pain for quite some time.
“It is an access issue but some of these patients are also just scared.
“I think it’s just that some people have a lack of knowledge in the rural areas.”