You are here:

  • Print

released: 3 Aug 2011 author: Ha D media release

The Child Dental Health Survey 2005-06 provides information on the oral health of children attending school dental services in Australia, and shows that decay is relatively common in Australian children. Nearly half children aged 5-6 years (48.7%) had a history of dental decay in the deciduous teeth (also known as baby teeth). Likewise, nearly half of children aged 12 years (45.1%) had a history of decay in the permanent teeth. Young children from the lowest socioeconomic areas had about 70% more dental decay than children from the highest socioeconomic areas.

ISSN 1445-775X ; ISBN 978-1-74249-155-4; Cat. no. DEN 210; 12pp.; Internet Only

Main findings  

Among Australian children aged 5–6 years:

  • nearly half (48.7%) had a history of dental decay in the deciduous teeth
  • the mean number of decayed, missing and filled deciduous teeth was 2.0
  • the mean number of decayed, missing and filled deciduous teeth of children from the lowest socioeconomic status areas was about 70% higher than for those from the highest socioeconomic status areas. This pattern was evident across all states and territories whose data were included in the analysis.

Among Australian children aged 12 years:

  • nearly half (45.1%) had a history of dental decay in the permanent teeth
  • the mean number of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth was 1.1
  • the mean number of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth of children from the lowest socioeconomic status areas was about 70% higher than for those from the highest socioeconomic status areas.

Recommended citation

Ha D 2011. Dental decay among Australian children. AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit Research report no. 53. Cat. no. DEN 210. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 13 January 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737419604>.