Dentists urged not to promote early super extractions

Dentists are being urged to pull any advertising promoting the early withdrawal of superannuation funds to pay for dental work in new guidelines from their peak body.

The Australian Dental Association guidelines have been released as the latest Australian Tax Office data shows dental care is a leading reason for use of the Compassionate Release of Super scheme (CRS).

In 2024-25 the ATO received 47,630 dental applications and approved 34,050, amounting to $817.6 million in dental care spending.

That's a big jump on 2023/24 when there were 31,780 dental applications and 22,530 approvals, totalling $526.4 million.

Dental association president Chris Sanzaro said the new guidelines aimed to provide clarity for patients, remind dentists of their obligations and clear up misinformation surrounding the scheme.

The scheme had involved "some cases of system abuse" involving upfront payments, dental website advertising and advice to patients.

The guidelines stress that early super release can only occur in cases of life-threatening injury or illness, acute or chronic pain or where dental treatment will help with a mental illness.

"The scheme has provided welcome financial relief for tens of thousands of people needing urgent dental treatment," Dr Sanzaro said in a statement.

But dentists could not provide financial guidance to patients on withdrawing super to fund treatment, that could only be provided by a licensed financial services adviser, he said.

Dental association board member Andrew Gikas said that earlier in 2025 there were cases of dental practices being paid upfront under the CRS but then going broke, with no dental work provided.

In response to that one of the new guidelines for dentists is they might ask for a deposit but it's not usual that all treatment be paid for upfront.

There had been a lot of advertising on dentists' websites on how to access early release super, Dr Gikas told AAP on Thursday.

"We think it's not really appropriate to advertise to patients who aren't aware or who are really not in need."

Dentists could talk to patients about how they could pay for services, including the CRS, but they should not recommend super withdrawals, Dr Gikas said.

"Advertising on a website could give the wrong impression it's open to all."