Medical Service Use for Dental Problems in Australia: A National Cross-Sectional Study

The study examined how and why Australians seek medical care instead of dental care for dental problems. Data were collected from a national survey of 5,526 adults in 2021. Overall, 4.4% of adults sought medical care for a dental problem in the preceding year, with substantially higher prevalence among Indigenous adults (13.5%), low-income groups (6.5%), and those eligible for public dental care (8.5%). The majority of patients (76.9%) visited emergency departments, 13.6% were hospitalized, and 9.5% sought primary care. Antibiotics were most frequently prescribed for toothache and wisdom tooth problems. Referrals to dentists were rare across all groups. The findings highlight gaps in access to dental care and the need for better integration between medical and dental systems.