Average household expenditures for dental care in Canada, by income adequacy, 1978–2008.

<p>The average household expenditures for dental care among middle-income households grew from approximately $394 in 1978 to $538 by 2008 (2002 constant dollars). From the early 1990s to the early 2000s, dental expenditures per middle-income household began to rise faster relative to other income levels. By 2003, lower-income households reported more expenditures per household compared to middle-income households. Over the same period, higher-income household expenditures remained relatively stable. By 2008, middle-income households had the largest rise in out-of-pocket expenditures since 1978.