Figures provided to the Community News show patients waited an average of 15.9months last financial year to see a dentist through the centre, compared with 29 months in 2006-07 - a 45per cent decrease. In the same period, the dental waiting list was slashed by 41per cent, from 6066 patients in 2006-07 to 3543 last financial year.

During those same three years, there was an 11per cent rise in dental patients (from 9411 to 10,459) and a 30per cent boost in State Government funding, from $2.5million to $3.2million. Most patients live in Brimbank (4997), followed by Maribyrnong (2537), Hobsons Bay (2177) and Moonee Valley (608).

The centre's general manager of clinical services, Nicole Bartholomeusz, said one Footscray dentist had played an integral part in reducing the waiting list.

In the past two years, Dr Frank Noronha has seen more than 1050 of the centre's patients, declining to book more private patients who pay higher rates.

"He's recognised that it shouldn't only be people who can pay that have access to care," Ms Bartholomeusz said.

She said private dental vouchers had also helped manage the waiting list, but they often failed to cover the cost of complicated care, which led to many patients returning to the centre for the rest of their treatment once the voucher amount was used up.

Dentists interested in the centre's private-public dental partnership can call 8398 4107.