- Wisconsin residents pay a moderate share of their outgoings on dental work, 3.16%, accounting for one dollar for every $32 of personal spending.
- Wisconsin residents spend slightly below the US average of annual outgoings on oral health.
- Of total per capita healthcare expenditure, Wisconsin residents allocate less to dentistry compared to neighboring states like Minnesota (3.32%).
Wisconsin residents face a slightly lower dental care cost burden, spending just below the US average on oral health, new analysis shows. This comes as almost half of US adults say it is difficult to afford health care costs, according to a July 2025 KFF poll.
Research conducted by Toronto dentist Thorncrest Dental analyzed Bureau of Economic Analysis data for 2023 on the average annual per capita expenditures across the US. Researchers compared total spending to dental care spending to determine where residents allocate the highest proportion of their income to dental health.
Wisconsin residents spend the 25th-highest proportion of their outgoings on dental care. Data shows the average resident spends $545 annually on dental care. With per capita spending totaling $17,254, dental costs account for 3.16% of total expenditure, or around one dollar for every $32 spent, slightly below the national average.
Neighboring states also show varied spending, with Minnesota at 3.32% and Illinois at 2.54% of personal spending going to dental care.
The US average percentage of annual spending on dental care is 3.2%, based on average yearly per capita spending of $16,244 and dental costs of $524.
Speaking on the findings, Dr. Max Dawabsheh from Thorncrest Dental said:
“Northwestern and rural states show the highest proportion of outgoings on dental care. In these states, even modest dental bills can represent a big share of yearly spending, with per-capita personal expenditure below the national average, meaning the percentage spent on going to the dentist is higher than the rest of the country. Secondly, rural states such as Idaho, North and South Dakota, and Montana may have lower living costs, inflating the relative costs for maintaining good oral health compared to other parts of the country.”
“While you should never negotiate on quality care, you should always do your research before spending large amounts of money at any dental provider. Check out online reviews on trusted sites and always investigate the option of a free consultation so that any spending on dental work that you may have done is justified and you’re ultimately satisfied with what you’re spending your hard-earned money on.”
