Effect of Becoming Unemployed on Affordability of Oral Health Care among Australian Adults

Becoming unemployed had a considerable and immediate negative impact on the affordability of oral health care among working-age Australian adults. Adequate welfare support services are needed to address the immediate financial hardship and consequences that may result due to unemployment.Knowledge Transfer Statement:Using large population-based cohort data, we established that becoming unemployed hampers the ability to afford oral health care. Our study showed that this impact occurs within a year of unemployment, highlighting how quickly unemployment can create ripple effects for oral health care utilization, cascading into a potential lack of timely treatment or preventive therapies. Our findings highlight the need for adequate welfare support policies to address the immediate financial hardship and consequences that may result due to unemployment.