By the Numbers: Dental Spending
Inside Dental Technology delivers updates on digital workflows, materials, lab techniques, and innovation in dental technology through expert articles and videos.
April 1, 2020
Volume 11
,
Issue 4
,
April 2020
Page(s): p. 14
A recent ADA Health Policy Institute report indicated that national dental spending rose steadily from 1990 to 2008, leveled off, and then began increasing again in recent years. From 2014 to 2017, the ADA reported an inflation-adjusted increase of 9%. Much of that spending is occurring in the senior demographic, as 40% more seniors visited general practitioner dentists in 2016 than 2006, while the number decreased for adults in that time period and remained almost the same for children.
Who Is Visiting the Dentist?
Americans visiting general practitioner dentists (in millions)
Who Is Spending Out-of-Pocket?
Percentage change in dental spending (inflation-adjusted) from 2006 to 2016.
-7% Children (under 21)
-7% Adults (21-64)
+52% Seniors (65+)
