During dental health week, a new report from the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) finds public dental
patients, as a group, suffer from poorer oral health related to
their lower socioeconomic status and barriers to accessing dental
services.
Compared to the general Australian population, a higher
percentage of public dental patients had fewer teeth.
'This pattern was observed in all age groups attending for
general care, and for emergency patients 35 years and older,' said
Dr David Brennan of the AIHW's Dental Statistics and Research Unit
based at The University of Adelaide.
'A higher percentage of adult public dental patients also had
one or more decayed teeth compared to the general population,' he
said.
This pattern was observed regardless of patient age or type of
care (i.e. emergency and general care).
The report, Oral health of adult public dental
patients, provides information on the oral health of adult
public dental patients from 2004-07 and compares their oral health
status with estimates for the Australian population from The
National Survey of Adult Oral Health, 2004-06.
Findings were presented on the percentage of persons with less
than 21 teeth, prevalence of tooth decay and fillings, and gum
disease by the age of patient and for emergency and general courses
of care.
Dental health week kicks off on 4 August 2008. Dental Health
Week is a community awareness program coordinated and funded by the
Australian Dental Association.
Several other AIHW dental reports were also released today:
- Dental labour force in Australia, 2005
- Dental hygienist labour force in Australia, 2005
- Dental therapist labour force in Australia, 2005
- Dental prosthetist labour force in Australia,
2005
- Eight state and territory reports presenting results from
The National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06.
All 13 reports are available online at www.aihw.gov.au/publications
Thursday 7 August 2008
Further information: Dr David Brennan, AIHW, 08
8303 4046.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Oral health of adult
public dental patients.