The Dental Association says if the government spent more on preventing tooth decay in children it would save millions in hospital costs as well as sparing families a lot of pain and stress.
Latest figures show it cost more than $22 million to have nearly nine thousand children treated under general anaesthetic for dental work.
Dental healthcare recieved no funding in the government's Wellbeing Budget and Health Minister David Clark was not available to be interviewed on Thursday.
The Dental Association's president is Bill O'Connor. He talks to Susie Ferguson.
