A recent report published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that while the number of dentists is growing throughout Australia, supply outside of major cities remains low.

 

The Trends in the Australian dental labor force, 2000 to 2009 report shows an overall increase in the supply of dentists across Australia in the decade 2009, recording an increase from 46.9 to 54.1 practising dentists per 100,000 people.

 

Despite the good news, it was shown that the number of dentists per 100,000 people in major cities was double that of outer regional areas, and almost triple that in remote/very remote areas.

 

“While the number of dentists in regional and remote areas is still well below major cities, there have been increases in the number of dentists in all remoteness areas between 2000 and 2009,” said AIHW spokesperson Professor Kaye Roberts-Thomson.

  

These increases have ranged from 9% in Outer regional areas to 40% in Remote/Very remote areas.

 

Supply was highest in the Australian Capital Territory and lowest in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, with all other states around the national average.

 

Dentists tended to work slightly fewer hours per week (37.4) in 2009 than they did in 2000 (39.3)

 

“In 2009, the Australian dental labour force was dominated by general dental practitioners, with 11,900 dentists making up 67% of the workforce. Among these, 4 in every 5 worked in the private sector,” Professor Roberts-Thomson said.

 

The average age of dentists has increased from 44.3 to 45.2 years between 2000 and 2009.

 

The number of female dentists increased from 2,042 to 3,869 between 2000 and 2009.

 

The report can be found here

http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737421917&libID=10737421917