Costs

Many Australians face financial barriers in accessing dental services (COAG 2015). Overall, individuals directly fund a significant proportion of total expenditure on dental services, 59% in 2020–21 (AIHW 2022).

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 2021–22 prices.
  • 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. It is important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic affected every aspect of the health system in 2019–20 and in the years following.

Overall, $11.1 billion was spent on dental services in 2020–21

  • Recurrent expenditure on dental services in Australia is estimated to be $11.1 billion for 2020–21, up from $8.8 billion in 2010–11.
  • Between 2010–11 and 2020–21 total expenditure on dental services  increased at an average annual growth rate of 2.4%.
  • Total expenditure on dental services increased from $9.7 billion in 2019–20 to $11.1 billion in 2020–21.

In 2020–21, per capita expenditure on dental services was $432

  • Per capita expenditure on dental services steadily increased overall from $395 in 2010–11 to $432 in 2020–21.
  • Total expenditure on dental services per capita decreased from $432 in 2018–19 to $382 in 2019–20 and increased again to $432 in 2020–21.

Government expenditure

  • Australian Government expenditure on dental services fluctuated over the decade to 2020-21, from a high of $1.8 billion in 2011–12 to a low of $1.2 billion in 2019-2020 with expenditure remaining relatively stable between 2014-15 and 2020-21 at around $1.3 billion. Across the period, expenditure declined at an average annual rate of 1.6%.
  • Overall, state and territory government expenditure on dental services grew at an average annual rate of 0.7%. Expenditure fluctuated over the decade; ranging from lowest expenses of $711 million in 2012–13 to highest expenses of $946 million in 2020–21.
  • Between 2010–11 and 2020–21, Australian Government per capita expenditure on dental services fluctuated between $49 in 2019-2020 and $82 in 2011-2012, declining overall at an average annual rate of 3.0%.
  • State/territory and local government per capita expenditure fluctuated during the period 2010–11 to 2020–21, ranging from $31 in 2012–13 to $40 in 2010–11. Across the period, expenditure declined at an average annual rate of 0.8%.

Non-government expenditure

  • Non-government expenditure on dental services increased steadily overall, from $6.3 billion in 2010–11 to $8.8 billion in 2020–21. This represented an average annual growth rate of 3.4%.
  • Total non-government expenditure on dental services decreased from $7.6 billion in 2019–20 to $8.8 billion in 2020–21.
  • Expenditure on dental services by individuals accounted for the majority of non-government expenditure, increasing from $5.0 billion in 2010–11 to $6.5 billion in 2020–21 at an average annual growth rate of 2.6%.
  • Health insurance funds expenditure on dental services increased at an average annual growth rate of 6.2%, from $1.2 billion in 2010–11 to $2.2 billion in 2020–21.
  • Per capita expenditure on dental services by the non-government sector increased from $284 in 2010–11 to $343 in 2020–21. Across the period, per capita expenditure grew at an average annual rate of 1.9%.

Explore the data using Costs interactives 1 and 2 below.

Costs – Interactive 1

This figure shows the total dental expenditure, by sources of funds. National data is presented for 2010–11 to 2020–21. In Australia, the total dental expenditure from all sources was around $11 billion in 2020–21.

Costs – Interactive 2

This figure shows the expenditure on dental services per capita, by source of funds. National data is presented for 2010–11 to 2020–21. In Australia, the total dental expenditure per capita was $432 in 2020–21.

See Data tables: Costs for data tables.

Household expenditure

Data presented in this section was sourced from the 2003–04, 2009–10 and 2015–16 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Household Expenditure Survey (HES) (ABS 2006; ABS 2011; ABS 2017).  The ABS HES collects information on household expenditure patterns using variables such as income levels, sources, employment, family kinship, age and geographic location, to help provide a better understanding on living standards and economic wellbeing of Australians.

On average, Australians spent $7.62 per week on dental fees in 2015–16

  • In 2015–16, Australians spent an average of $7.62 per week on dental fees, compared to $5.74 in 2003–04 and $7.23 in 2009–10.
  • Residents of the Australian Capital Territory spent an average of $13.73 per week on dental fees in 2015–16, more than any other jurisdiction.
  • In 2015–16, South Australian residents spent an average of $5.88 per week on dental fees, less than any other jurisdiction.

Explore the data using the Costs interactive 3 below.

Costs – Interactive 3

This figure shows the average weekly household expenditure on dental fees. National, state and territory data is presented for 2003–04, 2009–10 and 2015–16. In Australia, the average weekly household expenditure on dental fees was $7.62 in 2015–16.

See Data tables: Costs for data tables.

Barriers

Data in this section were sourced from the National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18. Respondents were asked a range of questions relating to the cost of dental care.

People who avoided or delayed visiting a dentist due to cost

Around 4 in 10 (39%) of people aged 15 years and over avoided or delayed visiting a dentist due to cost

  • Females had higher rates of avoidance due to cost than males, 43% compared to 35%.
  • Indigenous Australians  (49%) had higher rates of avoidance due to cost than non-Indigenous Australians (39%).
  • People with insurance had lower rates of avoidance due to cost than those without insurance, 26% and 52% respectively. 
  • People who usually visit the dentist for a problem (58%) were more than twice as likely than those who usually visit for a check-up (27%) to avoid or delay visiting a dentist due to cost.

People who reported that cost prevented recommended dental treatment

Around 1 in 4 (23%) dentate adults aged 15 years and over who visited a dentist in the last 12 months reported that cost prevented recommended dental treatment

  • Adults aged 35–54 years were the most likely to not receive recommended dental treatment due to cost, 29%
  • People without insurance (30%) were more likely to report that cost prevented recommended dental treatment than those with insurance (18%).
  • People who usually visit the dentist for a problem (44%) reported higher rates of cost preventing recommended dental treatment than those who usually visit for a check-up (16%).

People who stated they would have a lot of difficulty paying for a basic preventive visit

Around one-quarter (24%) of adults aged 15 years and over stated they would have difficulty paying a $200 dental bill

  • The proportion of females (28%) reporting difficulty paying for a basic preventive visit was greater than the proportion of males (20%).
  • Indigenous Australians (40%) were more likely than non-Indigenous Australians (24%) to report difficulty paying a $200 dental bill.
  • A lower proportion of people with a degree or higher (15%) reported they would have difficulty paying for a basic preventive visit than those with other or no qualifications (27%).
  • More than twice as many people without insurance (33%) stated they would have difficulty paying for a basic preventive visit than those with insurance (15%).
  • Around twice as many people eligible for public dental care (39%) stated they would have difficulty paying for a basic preventive visit than those ineligible for public dental care (18%).

Cost trends

The proportion of dentate adults aged 15 years and over who avoided or delayed dental care due to cost increased from 31% in 2004–06 to 39% in 2017–18

  • Adults aged 25–34 were more likely to avoid or delay dental care in both 2004–06 and 2017–18 than any other age group, 43% and 50% respectively.

The proportion of dentate adults aged 15 years and over who reported the cost of dental care was a large financial burden was similar in 2004–06 and 2017–18, 14% and 13% respectively

  • There was a significant decrease in the proportion of dentate adults aged 35–44 who reported the cost of dental care was a large financial burden between 2004–06 and 2017–18, 16% and 12% respectively.

Explore the data using the Costs interactives 4 and 5 below.

Costs – Interactive 4

This figure shows the financial barriers to dental care by selected characteristics. Measures include the proportion of people who avoided or delayed dental care due to cost, the proportion of people who reported cost prevented recommended dental treatment and the proportion of people who would have difficulty paying a $200 dental bill.  National data is presented for 2017–18. In 2017–18, 38.8% of people avoided or delayed dental care due to cost.

Costs – Interactive 5

This figure shows the financial barriers to dental care trends for adults aged 15 years and over, by age. Measures include the proportion of adults who avoided or delayed dental care due to cost and the proportion of adults who reported the cost of dental care was a large financial burden. National data is presented for 2004–06 and 2017–18. In 2017–18, the cost of dental visits caused a large financial burden for 12.5% of adults.

See Data tables: Costs for data tables.

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