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released: 21 Apr 2011 author: Ellershaw A & Spencer A J media release

Forty per cent of Australian adults visit the dentist at least once a year for a check-up while nearly 30% visit infrequently and usually for a dental problem. Those with an unfavourable pattern of dental attendance had more than 3 times the level of untreated decay and 1.6 times more teeth missing due to dental disease than those with a favourable pattern of attendance. They were also more likely to report avoiding or delaying dental care due to the cost and being very afraid or distressed when making a dental visit.

ISSN 1321-0254; ISBN 978-1-74249-132-5; Cat. no. DEN 208; 52pp.; Internet only

Full publication

Publication table of contents

  • Preliminary material
    • Title and verso pages
    • Contents
    • Acknowledgements
    • Abbreviations
    • Symbols
    • Summary
  • Body section
    • 1 Introduction
      • 1.1 Report structure
    • 2 Methodology
      • 2.1 Survey design
      • 2.2 Telephone interview survey
      • 2.3 Oral examination
      • 2.4 Sample size and participation rate
      • 2.5 Weighting
      • 2.6 Criteria for determining statistical significance
      • 2.7 Methods used to derive population estimates
    • 3 Patterns of dental attendance
    • 4 Sociodemographic characteristics
      • 4.1 Age and sex
      • 4.2 Cardholder status and insurance status
      • 4.3 Annual household income
      • 4.4 Education level and work status
      • 4.5 Residential region and country of birth
      • 4.6 Socioeconomic status and dwelling ownership
      • 4.7 Conclusions
    • 5 Self-reported health characteristics and behaviours
      • 5.1 Self-reported oral health status
      • 5.2 Dental treatment received
      • 5.3 Social impact of dental problems
      • 5.4 Barriers to accessing dental care
      • 5.5 Conclusions
    • 6 Clinical oral health status
      • 6.1 Dental decay experience
      • 6.2 Gum disease
      • 6.3 Conclusions
  • End matter
    • References
    • List of tables
    • List of figures

Recommended citation

Ellershaw A & Spencer J 2011. Dental attendance patterns and oral health status. Dental statistics and research series no. 57. Cat. no. DEN 208. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 13 June 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737418681>.