Oral health among people who live in non-capital-city areas is
poorer than capital-city dwellers, according to a report released
today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
'People from outside capital cities don't have the same access
to dental care and preventive dental programs as residents of
capital cities,' said Ms Judy Stewart of the AIHW's Dental
Statistics and Research Unit.
'As a consequence, tooth loss, poorer oral health and
unfavourable dental visiting patterns were all more prevalent among
those living outside of capital cities,' she said.
The report, Geographic variation in oral health and use of
dental services in the Australian population 2004-06, showed
that people living in non-capital-city areas were less likely to
visit the dentist for check-ups, less likely to make an annual
dental visit, and less likely to have a particular dentist that
they usually visit.
Those who had visited a dentist in the previous 12 months were
more likely to have had one or more teeth extracted and less likely
to have received a professional clean.
Inadequate natural dentition (having less than 21 teeth) was
more prevalent among non-capital-city residents, particularly in
the 55-74 years age group.
'People with fewer than 21 remaining teeth have been shown to be
more likely to suffer impaired quality of life related to oral
health compared to adults with more teeth,' Ms Stewart said.
Overall, people who lived in areas outside capital cities had
almost double the prevalence of complete tooth loss as capital-city
dwellers (9% compared with 5%), with the difference evident in all
age groups.
Untreated decay was also more prevalent among residents of
non-capital-city areas than capital-city dwellers (33% compared
with 22%).
The difference was greatest in the 15-34 years age group, where
37% of non-capital-city residents had decayed teeth compared with
20% of capital city dwellers, almost a two-fold difference.
'Dental visiting behaviour is closely associated with oral
health outcomes, and people who visit regularly for a check-up
generally have less invasive treatments than people who go to the
dentist only when they have a problem,' Ms Stewart said.
There was considerable variation in the proportion of people who
visited the dentist for a check up - 48% of residents of
non-capital city areas compared with 61% of capital-city dwellers
usually visit the dentist for check-ups.
Tuesday 17 February 2009
Further information: Ms Judy Stewart, 08 8303
4613.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications area
for the availability of Geographic variation in
oral health and use of dental services in the Australian population
2004-06.