National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14

The data presented in this section were sourced from the National Child Oral Health Study (NCOHS) 2012–14 (Do & Spencer 2016). The NCOHS is a population-based survey which provides information on the oral health of children aged 5–14 years, who reside in all Australian states and territories. Information is collected using interviews and standardised dental examinations. 

Dental visiting patterns

Visiting a dental provider for a check-up is considered more likely to be associated with better oral health outcomes than visiting for a dental problem. Conversely, an irregular dental visiting pattern is associated with poorer oral health outcomes. In 2012–14, around 9 in 10 (87%) children aged 5–14 years first visited a dental provider for a check-up.

In 2012–14, the proportion of children aged 5–14 years who first visited a dental practitioner for a check-up was:

  • higher for non-Indigenous children (87%) than for Indigenous children (77%)
  • lower for those from low income households (79%) than for those from medium income households (89%) and high income households (92%)
  • lower for children whose parents had school-level education (81%) than for children of parents with vocational training (88%) and tertiary education (90%).

In 2012–14, around 8 in 10 (80%) children aged 5–14 years last visited a dental provider for a check-up.

In 2012–14, the proportion of children aged 5–14 years who last visited a dental practitioner for a check-up was:

  • higher for non-Indigenous children (81%) than for Indigenous children (68%)
  • lower for those from low income households (71%) than for those from medium income households (81%) and high income households (88%)
  • lower for children whose parents had school-level education (74%) than for children of parents with vocational training (80%) and tertiary education (84%).

In 2012–14, around 1 in 5 (21%) children aged 5–14 years had an irregular dental visiting pattern.

In 2012–14, the proportion of children aged 5–14 years with an irregular visiting pattern was:

  • lower for non-Indigenous children (20%) than for Indigenous children (31%)
  • higher for those from low income households (32%) than for those from medium income households (19%) and high income households (13%)
  • higher for children whose parents had school-level education (30%) than for children of parents with vocational training (20%) and tertiary education (16%).

Explore the data further in Dental care interactive 5 here:

Dental care interactive 5: Dental visiting patterns among Australian children, children aged 5–14 years

Column chart showing dental attendance among children 5–14 by selected characteristics. First visit for a check up 86.7 per cent; last visit for a check up 80.2 per cent.

Column chart showing dental attendance among children 5–14 by selected characteristics. First visit for a check up 86.7 per cent; last visit for a check up 80.2 per cent.

Downloadable data tables are available on Data. See Data tables: Dental care.

Recent dental visiting

Making a recent dental visit is indicative of access to the dental care system. In Australia, the dental care system is predominantly based in private practice on a fee-for-service basis.

In 2012–14, around 4 in 5 (81%) children aged 5–14 years made a dental visit within the last 12 months.

In 2012–14, the proportion of children aged 5–14 years who made a dental visit within the last 12 months was:

  • higher for non-Indigenous children (82%) than for Indigenous children (75%)
  • lower for those from low income households (76%) than for those from medium income households (82%) and high income households (86%)
  • lower for children whose parents had school-level education (76%) than for children of parents with vocational training (81%) and tertiary education (84%).

In 2012–14, around 3 in 5 (57%) children aged 5–14 years had their most recent dental visit at a private practice.

In 2012–14, the proportion of children aged 5–14 years who had their most recent dental visit at a private practice was:

  • higher for non-Indigenous children (58%) than for Indigenous children (23%)
  • higher for children who resided in Major cities (62%) than for those who resided in Inner regional (51%), Outer regional (39%) and Remote or very remote (28%) areas
  • higher for those children whose last dental visit was for a check-up (60%) than those who last visited for a problem (46%).

Explore the data further in Dental care interactive 6 here:

Dental care interactive 6: Characteristics of recent dental visiting, children aged 5–14 years

Column chart showing recent visiting for children 5–14 by selected characteristics. Most recent visit at a private practice for 56.8 per cent.

Column chart showing recent visiting for children 5–14 by selected characteristics. Most recent visit at a private practice for 56.8 per cent.

Downloadable data tables are available on Data. See Data tables: Dental care.

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