Annual dental expenditure of Ohio and Georgia residents is less than the national average

The annual amount spent by Georgians and Ohioans or their insurers for dental care in 2006 averaged about $150 less than the national average of $607, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The average annual dental expenditure for each Georgian who had dental care was $466, while for Ohioans, it was $474.

The federal agency's analysis of average annual dental expenditures in the 10 states with the highest populations in 2006 also found that:

•Michigan had the highest proportion of residents with dental expenses (52.5 percent) and Texas had the least (30 percent).
•Compared to the national average of 49 percent for out-of-pocket payment for dental care, Floridians paid more (62.5 percent) and Pennsylvanians paid less (42 percent).
•Nationally, private insurers paid 43 percent of all dental expenditures.