Here are five things to know:
1. The $4 billion jump between 2022 and 2023 is a 2.5% increase.
2. The growth in spending was driven by a more than $3 billion increase in Medicare dental spending and a $1 billion increase in Medicaid dental spending.
3. National dental expenditures surpassed $170 billion, accounting for 3.6% of total health expenditures.
4. Dental spending from government programs has steadily increased, while spending from private dental insurance and out-of-pocket spending declined slightly.
5. Private dental insurance spending decreased 0.4% and out-of-pocket dental spending dropped 0.7% between 2022 and 2023.
