In 2022, Melinda Amourous, a single mother of four from private health services in the US! Since then, she has lived a waking nightmare. She still had to invest $48,000 into a process of having her upper teeth removed and replaced with implants. As it stands now, she no longer has the teeth and must incur a major financial hit. The clinic agreed to assist her with applying for early access to her superannuation. Instead, she’s already well into negative territory—having lost more than half her total super balance.
Amourous hasn’t been able to eat well since her temporary dentures cracked. This has led to her immeasurable emotional and mental distress due to the physical pain. After countless calls and emails made to the Kotara Supercare Dental and Cosmetics clinic for her money back, she hasn’t received a response. As her health has continued to decline, Amourous has worried deeply about her financial prospects. She worries whether she will ever be able to retire comfortably.
The Financial Toll of Dental Procedures
Amourous’s plight highlights a troubling trend in dental practices that leverage patients’ superannuation for costly treatments. Oral surgery isn’t covered, so many patients like her are pushed to use their super funds to pay for sky-high costs of dental surgeries. Amourous was told that this dangerous financial maneuver would many years later improve her bottom line, and now the truth has proven to be quite the opposite.
“Something’s got to be done about this,” – Melinda Amourous
Experts have cautioned that allowing superannuation withdrawal to pay for dental procedures could lead to catastrophic outcomes. Xavier O’Halloran, a consumer advocate, explains the potential long-term impacts on individuals’ retirement savings. He notes that withdrawing significant amounts from super can leave patients “excess of $100,000 worse off by the time you retire.” He emphasizes that many of these clinics charge additional costs in order to access superannuation funds. This is shocking, considering that it is a process that the Australian Taxation Office provides at no cost.
In Amourous’s experience, the combined financial burden has been exacerbated by the medical crises she has experienced. She has already lost 50% of her super balance. Today, she is not only living with missing, ill-fitting teeth, but having to deal with increased medical expenses to fix her shattered dentures.
Physical and Emotional Suffering
The emotional effects Adding all the physical pain Amourous faces every day is what she calls the emotional toll of existing in a crumbling system. She fights the world with an open, bleeding mouth every day. To hold her temporary dentures in, she uses superglue, which only increases her suffering. Her friends have rallied around her, providing amazing support as she faces this difficult time. They’re easing her way as she juggles her growing health problems and economic turmoil.
Amourous has tried multiple times to reach out to Supercare Dental and Cosmetics for assistance. She still believes she is stuck in a system that has failed her. She remembers the clinic’s selections and promises, things that sound like a joke now compared to the pain she feels today.
“I don’t know how they sleep at night,” – Ms Bishop
Amourous suffers the pain of her superglued dentures daily. Now, every time she touches that tooth with her tongue, it reminds of the decisions she took to have a pretty smile. The emotional toll is clear as she begins to feel what her future may look like and accepting the reality of living without adequate dental care.
Seeking Accountability and Change
The sudden collapse of Supercare Dental and Cosmetics is ringing alarm bells among consumer advocates. As such, they are now leading the charge for increased accountability in the dental industry. O’Halloran is clear that businesses that perpetuate these bad behaviors should face increased oversight and enforcements to safeguard our most at-risk patients.
“The kind of businesses set up around this practice engage in pretty questionable activities,” – Xavier O’Halloran
As victims–such as Amourous–look to hold these companies accountable, there are valid worries about where the compensation will end up. Employees of Supercare Dental and Cosmetics instructed Amourous that he should seek damages in court. He needs to sue the dentist or the dentist’s malpractice insurer. This new pathway inserts yet another layer of complexity into a poorly defined mix.
“Compensation must be pursued through Dr. [name redacted] insurance or via legal action against Dr. [name redacted] directly,” – Supercare Dental and Cosmetics staff
The clinic provides an assurance of representation in legal matters, which in and of itself is a huge relief. Sadly, this promise begs the question of whether they are truly dedicated to patient care at all.
“We are happy to refer you to a solicitor who specialises in these types of cases if you would like legal representation to pursue compensation directly from Dr. [name redacted].” – Supercare Dental and Cosmetics staff
As patients increasingly find it difficult to navigate their options, advocates, including some dentists, say it’s time for reform in the dental sector. They argue for increased regulatory oversight that places the well-being of patients above the profit-seeking incentives of Wall Street.
