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Growth in Australians accessing their super to pay for dental care slows as approvals approach $900 million

Australian Dental Association

Key Facts:

• Lastest figures release by ATO total mount of superannuation withdrawn by Australians for dental treatment rose 9 per cent to $892 million in 2025–26.

• The Australian Dental Association recognises compassionate release of superannuation as an important safety net for people facing serious dental problems. However, the continued growth in withdrawals highlights a bigger issue: too many Australians cannot afford the dental care they need.

While the number people accessing their superannuation to pay for dental treatment slowed in 2025-26, the amount Australians withdrew from their super to pay for dental treatment continued to increase.

 

New Australian Taxation Office figures show the number of people accessing their superannuation on compassionate grounds for dental treatment has slowed down, following sharp increases in recent years.

 

However, the total amount approved rose by 9 per cent, from $817.6 million in 2024-25 to $892 million in 2025-26.

 

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) says the continuing rise is a stark reminder that too many Australians are still drawing down their retirement savings to pay for dental care.

 

ADA President Dr Chris Sanzaro said early access to superannuation remained an important safety net for people facing painful dental problems, but it should not become a substitute for a properly supported dental system.

 

“More than 39,000 Australians applying to dip into their retirement savings for dental treatment is a sobering figure.

 

“For someone living with serious dental pain or a significant dental problem, accessing their super should be the only option they can see to get the treatment they urgently need.

 

“But almost $900 million being taken from Australians’ retirement savings to pay for dental care should make us stop and ask why so many people are having to make that choice in the first place,” Dr Sanzaro said.

 

Access and affordability issues

 

The ADA said the figures reflected the broader affordability and access pressures facing Australians, particularly people on low incomes, older Australians, people with disability and others who are more likely to experience barriers to dental care.

 

Unlike most other areas of healthcare, Australians generally face significant out-of-pocket costs when they need dental treatment, while public dental services remain limited and waiting lists can be lengthy.

 

Dr Sanzaro said the ADA supported the continued availability of compassionate release of superannuation for people who genuinely needed it, but it needs to retain its integrity.

 

“Superannuation is intended to provide financial security in retirement. It was never designed to become a routine way of paying for dental care.

 

“We need to make sure people can access this safety net when they genuinely need it, while also addressing the underlying problem that too many Australians cannot afford the dental care they need.

 

“The superannuation safety net is important, but it’s not the dental system,” Dr Sanzaro said.

 

ADA Guidelines

 

“The ADA has updated its Compassionate Release of Superannuation guidelines for its member dentists and for patients to help ensure the scheme is used appropriately and ethically.

 

“The guidelines provide greater clarity about eligibility, the information required to support an application, treatment options and costs, and the responsibilities of dentists and patients.

 

“They also reinforce that dentists cannot provide financial advice about the consequences of withdrawing superannuation. People considering accessing their super should seek independent advice from a suitably qualified registered tax agent or financial advisor,” Dr Sanzaro said.

 

Cosmetic dentistry

 

The ADA is concerned about the promotion of compassionate release of superannuation for dental treatment that does not meet the scheme's intended purpose.

 

“Accessing super should be a health decision, not a lifestyle decision.

 

“Dental treatment can have both functional and aesthetic benefits, but we are concerned about any promotion of superannuation as a way to pay for purely cosmetic dental treatment. That undermines the integrity of the safety net and could leave people with less money for their retirement without addressing a genuine health need,” Dr Sanzaro said.

 

Public Dental services

 

The ADA said the continued growth in early release of super for dental care reinforces the need for governments to improve access to publicly funded dental services and targeted support for vulnerable Australians.

 

“We cannot keep relying on Australians’ retirement savings to fill the gaps in our dental system.

 

“If we want to improve Australians’ oral health, we need to invest earlier and invest where the need is greatest, particularly for children, seniors, people with disability and Australians experiencing financial disadvantage,” Dr Sanzaro said.

 

The ADA's Compassionate Release of Superannuation consumer information is available at Compassionate Release of Superannuation (CRS) | Australian Dental Association 

About us:

About the Australian Dental Association (ADA)

The Australian Dental Association is the peak national body for dentists. A member organisation with over 17,000 members and branches in every state and territory, it has three main objectives: to support members by enhancing their ability to provide safe, high-quality professional oral health care, to encourage the improvement of the oral health of the public and the promotion of the ethics, art and science of dentistry.

Contact details:

Media contact: Belinda Iemma, 0497748331 [email protected]