Many Australians face financial barriers in accessing dental services (COAG 2015). Overall, individuals directly fund a significant proportion of total expenditure on dental services, 58% in 2019–20 (AIHW 2021).
Key terms
- Household: from ABS Explanatory Notes
- Constant prices: Constant price expenditure adjusts current prices for the effects of inflation—that is, it aims to remove the effects of changes in prices over time. Constant prices are used to present dental expenditure estimates in the Expenditure section, unless otherwise indicated. Constant price estimates are based on 2019–20 price.
- Dental services: Services that registered dental practitioners provide. These include oral and maxillofacial surgery items, orthodontic, pedodontic and periodontic services, cleft lip and palate services, dental assessment and other dental items listed in the MBS. The term covers dental services funded by health funds, state and territory governments and also individuals’ out-of-pocket payments.
Expenditure
Dental services expenditure data presented in this section are derived from the AIHW Health Expenditure Database. Please note that some changes in methodology have been made to correct historical errors in Australian Government’s dental expenditure prior to 2019–20. It should also be noted that the COVID-19 pandemic affected every aspect of the health system towards the end of the 2019–20 financial year, as reflected by declines in expenditure between 2018–19 and 2019–20.
Overall, $9.5 billion was spent on dental services in 2019–20
- Recurrent expenditure on dental services in Australia is estimated to be $9.5 billion for 2019–20, up from $7.8 billion in 2009–10.
- Between 2009–10 and 2019–20 total expenditure on dental services increased at an average annual growth rate of 2.0%.
- Total expenditure on dental services decreased from $10.3 billion in 2018–19 to $9.5 billion in 2019–20.
In 2019–20, per capita expenditure on dental services was $374
- Per capita expenditure on dental services steadily increased overall from $357 in 2009–10 to $374 in 2019–20.
- Total per capita expenditure on dental services decreased from $410 in 2018–19 to $374 in 2019–20.
Government expenditure
- Australian Government expenditure on dental services fluctuated over the decade to 2019–20, from a low of $1.1 billion in 2013–14 to a high of $1.8 billion in 2011–12. Across the period, expenditure declined at an average annual rate of 0.9%.
- Overall, state and territory government expenditure on dental services grew at an average annual rate of 0.8%. Expenditure fluctuated over the decade; ranging from $676 million in 2012–13 to $874 million in 2011–12.
- Between 2009–10 and 2019–20, Australian Government per capita expenditure on dental services fluctuated between $48 and $78, declining overall at an average annual rate of 2.4%.
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State/territory and local government per capita expenditure fluctuated during the period 2009–10 to 2019–20, ranging from $30 in 2012–13 to $39 in 2010–11. Across the period, expenditure declined at an average annual rate of 0.8%.
Non-government expenditure
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