Summary

  • A sizeable minority reported that they had dental insurance cover.
  • Non-cardholders and dentate persons were more likely to have dental insurance than cardholders and the edentulous.
  • Younger adults tended to be less likely to be covered by dental insurance.
  • There was considerable variation across the States and Territories in the percentage of adults with dental insurance.
  • Insured adults (regardless of cardholder status) were more likely to have visited

    recently and less likely to have not visited for five or more years than uninsured persons.

  • Very few cardholders who last went to a public clinic had dental insurance.
  • Among those who visited in the last year, insured persons were more likely to have visited for a check-up and less likely to have visited for relief of pain than uninsured persons.
  • Similar percentages of insured and uninsured persons received fillings. However, uninsured persons were more likely to receive extractions.
  • Compared to the insured, uninsured persons were more likely to report: that they had avoided or delayed visiting a dentist because ofthe cost; that cost had prevented recommended or wanted dental treatment; and that they would have a lot of difficulty paying a $100 dental bill.
  • Uninsured cardholders who last visited a private dentist was the group with the highest percentage reporting that dental visits in the last 12 months were a large financial burden.
  • Overall there were substantial differences between insured and uninsured persons with respect to access to dental care.