Australia’s Hidden Dental Crisis

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.

Chart 1: Only half of Australians visit a dentist each year

Australia has had fewer than half its population visiting a dentist annually for most of the past decade — a direct consequence of cost barriers.

Chart 2: The burden doesn’t fall equally

Australians in the most disadvantaged areas are 2.5x more likely to skip dental care due to cost than those in the least disadvantaged areas.

Chart 3: Public waiting lists remain overwhelmed

Waiting lists dropped during COVID but have surged again — QLD and NSW now have more people waiting than ever before.

Chart 4: Australians pay most of their own dental bills

Out-of-pocket costs have grown every year — reaching $7.6 billion in 2022–23. Government funding covers less than 19% of total dental spending.

Chart 5: Australia lags behind on public dental funding

While Germany and France publicly fund over 80% of dental care, Australia funds just 18.8% — one of the lowest rates among comparable nations.