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released: 7 Aug 2008 author: AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit

This report provides information on the oral health of adult public dental patients and compares their oral health status with estimates for the Australian population from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health, 2004-06.

ISSN 1445-775X; Cat. no. DEN 183; 4pp.; INTERNET ONLY

Summary

  • Overall, a higher percentage of public patients had an inadequate dentition compared to the Australian population. This pattern was observed in all age groups of public dental patients attending for general care and for emergency patients aged 35 years or more.
  • A higher percentage of adult public dental patients had one or more decayed teeth compared to the Australian population in all age groups. This pattern was observed regardless of the type of public course of care (i.e. for both emergency and general care patients).
  • While the percentage of adult public dental patients with one or more filled teeth tended to be lower in comparison to the Australian population, this pattern was only significant among public dental patients attending for emergency care in the 35–54 and 55–74 years age groups.
  • The prevalence of 4+ mm pockets was higher for general care patients 35–54 years of age, and for emergency care and general care patients in the 55–74 years age group, compared to the Australian population.

Recommended citation

AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit 2008. Oral health of adult public dental patients. DSRU research report no. 36. Cat. no. DEN 183. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 13 January 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468125>.