Poor Oral Health Is A Strong Indicator Of Disadvantage In Australia. So Why Aren’t We Doing Anything About It?

We could fund a universal public dental care system if we really cared about improving oral health

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An increasing number of Australians struggle to access and afford dental care, and many experience dental disease with consequences that extend well beyond the mouth. Poor oral health remains one of the strongest indicators of disadvantage in Australia, and people who rely on public dental services endure long waiting times; in some places more than two years for basic general dental care. About half of the population does not visit the dentist on a regular basis, and cost is continually cited as a major barrier to access. The cost-of-living crisis has only exacerbated this issue.

The exclusion of dentistry from Medicare more than 50 years ago has had disastrous consequences, which are now becoming more apparent. Australians can attend their general medical practitioner, be treated in a public hospital and fill their prescriptions without their financial circumstances being a major barrier to receiving care. That is because state and federal governments subsidise up to 88% of the cost of these services. Unfortunately, the majority of dental costs are paid out-of-pocket by individuals, and federal government funding subsidises private health insurance substantially, further entrenching easy access for higher income groups.

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