National dental expenditures were $165 billion in 2022, a decrease of 6.3% compared to 2021, according to data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.
Spending reached $176 billion in 2021, the highest amount recorded since 2000.
Government dental program spending increased 7.3% between 2021 and 2022, jumping from $26 billion to $28 billion.
Private health insurance and out-of-pocket spending on dental were both $70 billion in 2021, and both dropped slightly in 2022.
Spending in the category of "other" had a drop of $8 billion, or 75%, mostly due to a large decrease in pandemic-related spending by the government, according to the ADA's report.