Number of dental practitioners per 100,000 people in Australia - Data and Analysis (2003-2034)

IBISWorld forecasts the number of dental practitioners per 100,000 people to climb by 1.7% in 2027, reaching 94.3. According to the latest data from the Dental Board, the number of registered dental practitioners strengthened over the 9 months through the March quarter of 2026 (the latest available data). While not all registered dental practitioners are actively employed in their field of study, growth in the total number of registered dental practitioners is strongly correlated with an expansion in the number of employed dental practitioners. The number of employed dental practitioners has outpaced population growth over the decade through the end of 2026-27, driving up the number of practitioners per 100,000 people over the period.The latest data from the Dental Board of Australia reveals that the dental labour force is dominated by general dentists (74.3%), with oral health therapists (12.5%), dental hygienists (5.2%), dental prosthetists (4.4%), dental therapists (1.8%) and dual or other division practitioners (1.8%) making up the remainder. Dental practitioners are primarily located in major cities, while regional areas are often found wanting in terms of dental practitioners. Findings from the Australian Dental Association (ADA) indicate that Australians living in rural and remote areas have comparatively poor oral health compared with their urban counterparts due to limited access to dental care.Increases in training capacity at Australian universities for dentistry degrees, coupled with the continued intake of migrant dentists, have contributed to solid growth in the number of new dental practitioners joining the workforce in recent years. IBISWorld forecasts the number of dental practitioners per 100,000 people to swell at a compound annual rate of 1.1% over the five years through 2026.