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released: 11 Dec 2008 author: Brennan D S

This report presents findings from adult patients receiving public dental care. Patients eligible for public dental care are primarily holders of government entitlement cards such as aged pensioners and the unemployed. Findings are presented on tooth loss, dental caries and periodontal disease, and comparisons are made between public dental patients and the Australian population using data from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06. The higher prevalence of an inadequate dentition, presence of decayed teeth and periodontal pockets among public dental patients compared to the Australian population indicates that this low income group suffers from disadvantage in oral health status related to their lower socio-economic status and ability to access dental services.

ISSN 1321-0254; ISBN 978 1 74024 863 1; Cat. no. DEN 192; 48pp.; Internet only

Oral health of adults in the public dental sector

Dental statistics and research series No. 47

Full publication (152KB PDF)

  • Preliminary material
    • Half title and verso pages
    • Contents
    • Abbreviations
    • Symbols
    • Acknowledgments
    • Summary (HTML)
  • Body sections
    1. Introduction
      • 1.1 Public dental services
      • 1.2 Information on adult public dental patients
      • 1.3 Structure and themes
    2. Methods
      • 2.1 Data collection
      • 2.2 Rationale for sample size
      • 2.3 Weighting
      • 2.4 Data items
    3. Response
    4. Oral health status of patients
      • 4.1 Edentulism
      • 4.2 Number of teeth
      • 4.3 Caries experience
      • 4.4 Periodontal disease
      • 4.5 Comparison with population oral health status
    5. Discussion
      • 5.1 Interpretational issues
      • 5.2 Oral health findings
      • 5.3 Conclusions
  • End matter
    • References
    • Appendixes
      1. Data tables
      2. Key findings: Western Australia and South Australia
      3. Publications from the Adult Dental Programs Survey
        • Adult Dental Programs Survey 1992-93
        • Adult Dental Programs Survey (cross-sectional) 1994-96
        • Prospective Adult Dental Programs Survey 1995-96
        • Adult Dental Programs Survey 2001-02
    • List of tables
    • List of figures

Recommended citation

Brennan D S 2008. Oral health of adults in the public dental sector. Cat. no. DEN 192. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 12 June 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468193>.