This publication presents findings on edentulism (complete tooth loss), dental caries (decay) and periodontal (gum) disease among public dental patients between 1995-96 and 2001-02. Adults eligible for public dental care are primarily persons on low incomes who hold government entitlement cards such as aged pensioners and the unemployed.

The primary focus of this paper is to estimate future growth in the Australian dental labour force and subsequently model the future capacity of the dental labour force to supply dental visits in Australia. Projections to the year 2015 of the dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist and dental prosthetist labour forces are presented.