Dental expenditure per person in Australia’s small rural towns is estimated to be 77% below metropolitan levels, prompting the Australian Dental Association NSW (ADA NSW) to call for immediate targeted investment and warn that the gap raises serious concerns about access to essential care.
The findings in The Forgotten Health Spend 2026 report raise a stark question: how many rural Australians are going without dental treatment because they cannot get it?
In the report released earlier this month, 2024–25 analysis estimates age-standardised dental expenditure of $125 per person in small rural towns, classified as Modified Monash category 5 (MM 5), compared with $541 in metropolitan areas. That represents a gap of approximately 77%.
ADA NSW Vice-President and Dubbo dentist Dr Sophie Halpin said the findings should prompt urgent attention to the barriers facing rural patients. ADA NSW is calling for coordinated government action to strengthen rural dental workforce recruitment and retention, improve public dental access, and support preventive and continuing care closer to home.
“Oral health needs to be part of rural health planning from the outset. Lower dental expenditure should never be mistaken for lower dental need. For a family in rural NSW, a dental appointment can mean a long drive, time away from work and school, and the cost of travel on top of treatment. If there is no local service or if appointments are difficult to secure, getting care becomes even harder.”
The report estimates age-standardised expenditure of $222 per person in remote communities and $94 in very remote communities, compared with the metropolitan figure of $541. The analysis includes government and non-government dental expenditure, including individuals’ out-of-pocket spending. It allocates expenditure geographically using the location of dental practitioners.
Dr Halpin said improving access requires sustained support for both the workforce and the services rural communities rely on. “We also need to make it easier for dental practitioners to build lasting careers in rural communities, with opportunities for training, professional support and sustainable local practice. Visiting practitioners, mobile clinics and outreach services also have an important role, particularly where a permanent service is difficult to sustain. Those services need reliable support and clear pathways for patients who require follow-up treatment.”
While a dentist visit can identify a problem, patients also need a practical way to complete their care in a regular cadence.
“Helping people receive timely dental care can prevent problems from escalating and help reduce the burden on hospital services. Your postcode should not determine whether you can get a dental appointment or complete the treatment you need,” adds Dr Halpin.
