Australia has universal healthcare — but not for your teeth. Dental care was removed from Medicare in 1987, and nearly four decades later, millions of Australians are paying the price. These five charts tell the story of who gets left behind.
The burden doesn’t fall equally. Australians living in remote areas or in the most disadvantaged communities are far more likely to skip dental care due to cost.
For those who can’t afford private care, the public system is the only option — but waiting lists remain overwhelmed across every state.
The reason is simple: Australia’s dental system is almost entirely privately funded. Individuals bear over 60% of all dental costs directly from their own pockets.
Australia is not alone in struggling with dental costs — but compared to peer nations, its public funding is remarkably low. While Germany and France publicly fund over 80% of dental care, Australia funds less than 20%.