ADA Health Policy Institute research found dental spending in 2021 was higher than its pre-pandemic level. COVID-19-related government relief program spending was $7 billion in 2021. Absent these programs, HPI estimates that 2021 national dental spending would have been $155 billion, still above pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, government program spending increased by 25% from 2020 to 2021. Within government programs, Medicare and Medicaid spending increased by about $2 billion each. Private health insurance spending was up by 11% and out-of-pocket spending increased by 13%.