In Australia, dentistry is expensive. Most oral healthcare in Australia falls outside the universal healthcare insurance scheme. This brief outlines a clear, staged and evidence-based funding strategy to transition from ad hoc responses to a sustainable, equitable and high-value oral health system. 

Key findings

• Cost continues to be the most frequently reported barrier to accessing oral healthcare.
• While current funding models offer a strong foundation for reform, government support is presently directed toward low-income and priority populations.
• The absence of a nationally agreed definition of what dental services should be government funded, limits the ability to allocate resources effectively.
• The Australian Government can work towards integrating oral health into the public health system with incremental funding changes. 

Recommendations

1. Define essential oral healthcare in Australia
2. Implement a formal priority-setting approach
3. Integrate oral healthcare into health technology assessment processes.