National report card on dental health

In Victoria, almost half (49.9%) of people saw a dental professional in the previous 12 months, according to a health survey across the nation for last financial year. While over half (59.7%) of people in Victoria needed to see a dental professional,16.4% of these people could not see one at all when needed.

Tasmania had the highest proportion of people who needed to see a dental professional, according to the 2013-14 ABS Patient Experience Survey. It shows that 22% of Tasmanians who needed to see a dental professional did not, compared with the ACT which had the lowest proportion (12.5%).

People in the ACT were most likely to have seen a dental professional (53%), compared with those in the NT who were least likely (41.5%).

The survey examines peoples' experience with health care.

The ADAVB considers that most of those who needed to see a dental professional but did not, were public dental patients.