Geographic variation in oral health and use of dental services in the Australian population 2004-06

Back to the report Geographic variation in oral health and use of dental services in the Australian population 2004-06

Main Findings

Main findings All measures of tooth loss, poorer oral health and unfavourable dental visiting patterns were more prevalent among non-capital-city residents than capital-city dwellers:

• Complete tooth loss was more prevalent among older age groups and non-capital-city residents.
• Inadequate natural dentition (having less than 21 teeth) was more prevalent among non-capital-city residents, particularly in the 55-74 years age group.
• Untreated decay was more prevalent among residents of non-capital-city areas than capital-city dwellers, and was most pronounced in the 15-34 years age group.
• People living in non-capital-city areas were more likely to have a problem-oriented pattern of dental attendance, and were:
  • less likely to visit for check-ups
  • less likely to make an annual dental visit
  • less likely to have a particular dentist that they usually visit.
• People living in non-capital-city areas were less likely to have made a dental visit within the previous 12 months, and those who had visited were:
  • more likely to have had one or more teeth extracted
  • less likely to have received a professional clean and polish.