Changes in Inequalities of Access to Dental Care in Australia 1977-2005

Information on dental visits, income and demographic variables were drawn from the Australian National Health Survey between 1977 and 2005. Income-related inequality in access to dental care was calculated using the generalised concentration index (G) and decomposition methods were employed to examine associations with socio-demographic and policy-amenable factors. Statistically significant increases in inequality in dental care use were found after 1995. From 0.026 in 1995, G increased to 0.045 in 2005. The associations between increases in inequality and changes in the uptake of private health insurance suggest a contributory role of the introduction of the Commonwealth government's 30 per cent rebate for private health insurance. ©2011 The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research.