Authorities have raised concerns as some professionals are reportedly bending regulations to promote treatments that are either unnecessary or come with inflated costs.

For many years, a mother from Nelson Bay in NSW grappled with self-esteem issues, longing to replace her deteriorating upper teeth.

Source: SBS News

Despite her desire for dental work, she found it financially out of reach. However, her fortunes seemed to change upon discovering a Facebook ad from NSW-based Supercare Dental and Cosmetics, which offered assistance in accessing superannuation funds to cover dental expenses. This seemed like the answer she had been seeking.

She couldn’t afford the treatment, but when she came across a Facebook advertisement from NSW-based Supercare Dental and Cosmetics promising to help patients access their superannuation to pay for dental work, she thought she’d finally found a solution.

She expected to have only her top teeth replaced with dentures, but staff encouraged her to get both rows done, she said.

Melinda Amourous paid tens of thousands of dollars for dental work that was never completed. Source: Supplied

“They basically talked me into having a matching smile,” she told SBS News.

But more than three years later, Amourous says her dream of a perfect smile has turned into a nightmare.

Melinda Amourous had to use superglue to hold in her broken dentures. Source: Supplied

She described experiencing excruciating pain during a four-and-a-half-hour procedure — conducted under local anaesthetic — to remove her teeth.

Dozens of emails and messages sent to Supercare asking that her teeth be repaired or she be given a refund have gone unanswered.

Hundreds of patients left out of pocket

But after a kidney cancer diagnosis, he said his doctors advised him to cancel the procedure despite already having his teeth removed.

Peter Hazell was left without teeth after Supercare went into voluntary administration. Source: Supplied

He said he accepted an offer to have dentures instead, with the rest of the money refunded in weekly $10,000 instalments.

Usman previously told A Current Affair she denied wrongdoing and was committed to completing procedures that had been paid for.

Positive experience for others

Melbourne man Damian Cody broke some of his back teeth from grinding them while he slept.

Damian Cody withdrew $6,000 from his super for dental treatment and has no regrets. Source: SBS News

“It felt like when you get something stuck in your teeth, I was hyper aware of that, I was worried about my tooth totally breaking apart because I heard all the horror stories,” he told SBS News.

“[Withdrawing super for dental work] was totally worth it,” he said.

Growing trend of early super access

“I want to make it clear, compassionate release of super should only be considered as a last resort, where all other options of paying for the eligible expenses have been exhausted.”

“This includes calling on practitioners to ensure they are meeting their obligations and acting on notifications we receive in relation to the scheme.”

Early super users risk ‘massively overpaying’

He said his organisation had also noticed some dentists were charging more for patients paying with super.