Using super funds to pay for dental treatment has come with a united warning by the health and financial regulators.
Both the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and AHPRA have now raised concerns over the compassionate release of super funds for dental work, detailing how this access may come at inappropriate times.
“It is unacceptable for anyone to pressure Australians into accessing their superannuation savings early to pay for overpriced or unnecessary treatments,” ATO Deputy Commissioner Ben Kelly said.
“Superannuation is a long-term investment designed to be used during retirement. Accessing your super early carries long-term financial risks and can cut into your retirement savings.
“Compassionate release of superannuation is an important safety net for help fund necessary health care where people cannot otherwise afford it.
“It should only be considered as a last resort and only when it is really necessary.”
Both organisations have previously flagged caution over potentially inappropriate compassionate release of super in the past, but this time the warning was squarely aimed at the dental industry.
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As part of the joint statement, both bodies backed recommendations that patients fully explore other funding options and be educated on the short- and long-term impacts of early super access.
This includes the additional tax withholding, how it impacts retirement plans and patient eligibility for government support payments.
“A red flag to look out for is health practitioners or third parties who use social media to advertise early access to super for cosmetic or dental procedures,” Mr Kelly said.
“This type of promotion is a clear warning sign that practitioners or third parties might be willing to exploit an individual’s circumstances and encourage them to take risks with their super.’
“You should be extremely wary of any facilitator or practitioner who asks for your myGov sign-in so they can ‘apply for you’.
“You should never share your myGov details with anyone, sharing your myGov details puts your identity security at significant risk.”
Other red flags included prioritising telehealth for consultations in addition to more expensive recommendations, encouraging use of super to pay, requiring specific third-party providers for super release, additional assistance fees and requiring upfront payment in full.
This warning comes as AHPRA and the Dental and Medical Boards of Australia having recently released guidance for doctors and dentists alike in lieu of ongoing conduct concerns.
Between 2019 and 2025, AHPRA received 95 complaints about super releases, with most complaints related to treatment outcomes or payment disputes.
“Patients need to be able to trust that their practitioner is recommending treatments based on clinical need, not the prospect of financial gain,” AHPRA CEO Justin Untersteiner said.
“If you have concerns about the conduct or performance of a registered practitioner, we want you to notify Ahpra.
“Every notification we receive is taken seriously and carefully assessed, and we look into every concern to determine what action, if any, is required to protect public safety.
“While most practitioners do the right thing, AHPRA will take action when standards aren’t met.”
