The Senate has blocked the Rudd government's plan to scrap the Medicare dental scheme for the chronically ill.
The government aimed to axe the scheme under which people with chronic medical conditions can access up to $4,250 in major dental work and dentures, and replace it with a $290 million public dental health program.
The government has said it can fund only one of the schemes, not both, so it would not erode the surplus.
The Australian Greens, Family First and independent senator Nick Xenophon sided with the coalition to defeat the government's motion to overturn a previous disallowance motion and thus scrap the scheme.
Before the vote, opposition frontbencher Richard Colbeck said the Howard government's scheme was working well.
"It's quite dishonest to come in here and say this program is failed," Senator Colbeck said.
"It is obviously a successful program, it is obviously highly needed."
Senator Colbeck said the government's figures about the scheme were "deceptive, misleading and dishonest".
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said her party would not support the government's plans because the scheme met a key part of the party's dental
policy.
"This program is helping thousands of Australians, who as I have said, have been accessing these health services in some cases for the first time."
Senator Siewert said the scheme had not worked well until November, when changes were introduced, but since than had proved effective.
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