Cost of living crisis drives 2 million Australians to skip dental care
More than two million Australians have skipped dentist visits due to affordability, with young adults aged 18 to 25 particularly affected.
One in three Australian adults has untreated tooth decay. Cost of living pressures are driving people away from preventive dental care.
More than two million Australians have delayed or skipped dentist visits due to affordability. Young Australians aged 18 to 25 are especially at risk.
They are finishing school, leaving home, and losing parents' health insurance just as costs mount. Sydney dentist Monica Farrelly warns that small issues can turn serious.
A quick clean or small filling now can prevent major problems later. University student Emily Novo skipped the dentist and developed an abscess between her wisdom tooth and gum.
It left her unable to eat or talk until antibiotics cleared the infection. She now knows a regular clean costs $300 to $500, but cannot find that money in her budget.
- more than 2 million
- Australians who skipped dentist
- one in three
- Adults with untreated decay
- 18 to 25 years
- Age group most affected
- $300 to $500
- Cost of regular dental visit
Why it mattersDelayed dental care creates costlier problems later: small infections become abscesses, minor decay becomes extraction, and preventive savings turn into emergency expenses.
AustraliaAustralia's health system will face higher demand for emergency dental treatment if affordability barriers keep growing, pushing costs onto hospitals and patients.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 6 d ago
