Where you live in Australia still shapes how much dental care gets paid for. The National Rural Health Alliance's Forgotten Health Spend report for 2026 finds rural, regional and remote Australians receive less health spending per person than people in the cities. The Australian Dental Association NSW has pointed to one striking dental figure from it: spending per person in small rural towns is estimated to be about 77% below metropolitan levels.
This article explains what the figures show, what we can and can't conclude from them, and what they mean for dental practices, whether you are in a regional town or a city.
This article summarises public reporting of a report and a professional body's statement. We haven't seen the full report, so figures are attributed to the sources below.
Key takeaways
- The National Rural Health Alliance's 2026 report, based on 2024-25 data, finds rural, regional and remote Australians receive about $1,218 less health spending per person than people in metropolitan areas. After inflation, that gap is $138 per person bigger than last year.
- The report puts the national rural-urban health spending gap at about $9.23 billion a year.
- The ADA NSW reports that dental spending per person in small rural towns (classed MM 5) is about 77% below metropolitan levels, around $125 versus $541 per person in 2024-25.
- The workforce gap is wide. Reporting on the same report says there are 194 non-GP specialist medical practitioners per 100,000 people in metropolitan areas, against 9 in small rural towns.
- The ADA NSW is calling for immediate, targeted investment in rural dental services.
What the report says
The Forgotten Health Spend report was commissioned by the National Rural Health Alliance and uses 2024-25 health, disability and aged care funding data. Its headline finding is that rural, regional and remote Australians receive less health funding per person than city residents, and the gap is widening.
The report's size-of-town categories are the Modified Monash (MM) model. MM 5 describes small rural towns. Reporting on the report says they have the largest shortfalls across almost all major categories of care, and that the funding gap is largest in NSW. Reports of the headline per-person figure for small towns differ between outlets, so we haven't quoted it here.
The report describes a "triple disadvantage" for rural communities: higher costs to deliver and access care, fewer services available, and higher health needs.
The dental figure
The ADA NSW highlighted the dental result. The figures reported are about $125 per person in small rural towns against about $541 in metropolitan areas, adjusted for age, for 2024-25, and they include out-of-pocket spending. That works out to roughly 77% lower.
Spending is not the same as need or quality. A lower figure means less money is being spent on dental care per person. That could reflect fewer dentists, fewer services nearby, longer travel, lower use of care, or all of these. The ADA NSW's reading is that it raises serious concerns about people going without essential care.
Why it happens
The report and commentary on it point to several overlapping reasons:
- Fewer practitioners. Allied health and specialist services are far thinner in small towns. Reported figures show 816 registered allied health practitioners per 100,000 people in metropolitan areas against 329 in small rural towns.
- Higher cost to deliver care. Distance, smaller patient volumes and recruitment all raise costs.
- Out-of-pocket costs. Most adult dental care is privately funded, so lower spending can mean people simply aren't getting treatment.
- Funding that follows services, not need. Reporting on the launch says funding has drifted toward cities where the services are.
What it means for dental practices
Rural and regional practices
- Demand may be higher than your capacity. If patients travel long distances, a missed appointment is costly for them and for you. Clear reminders and easy rescheduling matter more. See our guides to the ideal reminder schedule and filling last-minute cancellations.
- Phones are often the only front door. Where a practice is small and staff are scarce, missed calls turn into patients who go without care or drive elsewhere. Read the cost of missed calls and after-hours phone cover options.
- Recruitment is the hardest problem. Workforce incentives and flexible roles are likely to feature in the policy response, so keep an eye on state and federal announcements.
- Telehealth helps, but it isn't a full answer. One MP quoted in coverage of the report said governments need the right funding model rather than relying on telehealth alone. For where virtual care fits dentistry, see our teledentistry guide.
City practices
- Referrals and travel. Patients who travel from regional areas for specialist or complex care often need extra help with scheduling, records and follow-up.
- Patient questions. Patients may raise the topic, especially around public dental waiting lists and out-of-pocket costs. See our guide to out-of-pocket dental costs.
What the figures don't tell us
- They don't show how many people go without care, or why.
- The 77% figure is an estimate for one category of town (MM 5), not every rural area.
- We haven't seen the full methodology. Check the report for how towns are classified and how spending is calculated.
Frequently asked questions
What does MM 5 mean?
It is a Modified Monash category in the report's classification. MM 5 refers to small rural towns. MM 1 is metropolitan areas and MM 7 is very remote communities.
Who produced the report?
The National Rural Health Alliance commissioned The Forgotten Health Spend. The dental figure was highlighted by the ADA NSW.
What is the ADA NSW asking for?
Immediate, targeted investment in dental services for rural communities.
Next steps
Read the National Rural Health Alliance's publication page, the ADA NSW statement and Bite Magazine's coverage. If your practice is stretched on the phones, book a demo to see how IntelliDent answers calls and books appointments around the clock.