Poorer Australians are putting off going to the dentist because it costs too much.
New data shows that people living in the most disadvantaged areas of the country are twice as likely to put off or not go to a dentist compared to the richest Australians.
Nationally, one in five people put off caring for their teeth, the COAG Reform Council report shows.
Council chairman John Brumby says governments need to deal with this problem because poor dental care can result in major health problems and affect quality of life.
"If you front up for a job interview and you've got terrible teeth, the evidence suggests you're not going to get the job compared to someone who's got good teeth," he told reporters on Wednesday.
Just one in 25 people put off going to a doctor because of the cost.
GPs bulk bill so there is no cost to the patient at the moment, Mr Brumby said.
"If you go to the dentist to get a filling, it's a couple hundred bucks," he said.
"And for more disadvantaged people, they can't afford to take the top rate of health insurance, which often covers for dental."
One in 12 Australians delayed filling a prescription from their doctor because of the cost of the drugs.
Changes to the way data is collected meant the report was unable to say if primary care had become more affordable.
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