National Oral Health Plan 2015–2024: performance monitoring report

Proportion of adults 18 years and older eligible for public dental services who access public dental care

Numerator
Total number of adults (aged 18+ years) eligible for State/Territory provided public dental services who access care over a two year period through the State/Territory public dental services

Denominator
Total number of adults (aged 18+ years) eligible* for State/Territory provided public dental services as at the end of the two year period
*This varies across jurisdictions where State/Territory eligibility criteria will be applied in the denominator count

High

Public dental
State/territory public dental service data for adults accessing public dental services including eligibility criteria

Department Social Services
For data on the number of adult concession card holders

Public oral health care access
Includes all State/Territory public oral health service eligible adults provided oral health care within the two year reporting period through the public oral health sector. This includes State/Territory eligible individuals whose care is funded either by State/Territory and/or Commonwealth.

Oral health care
Includes:
(a) Any services provided through public dental clinics
(b) Any services provided through outreach (eg: preventive, screening) programs
(c) Services under State/Territory funded voucher schemes provided through the private sector
An individual is only counted once in the reporting period if access to the service occurred on multiple occasions or through more than one clinic.

Age group
Includes individuals aged 18+ years accessing care in the two year reporting period. Age is calculated from the date of birth in years (rounded down) as at the date of care provision. The individual is counted if age at the time of care over the two year reporting period is 18 years or older.

Non eligible public oral health care access
Individuals not eligible for State/Territory public dental services that are provided care through public dental services are to be excluded. This includes (but not limited to):
(a) Non eligible individuals funded via the CDBS
(b) Non eligible individuals treated under private practice arrangements
(c) Students treating other students as part of clinical training.