National Study of Adult Oral Health

The National Study of Adult Oral Health (NSAOH) 2017–18 (Chrisopoulos, Luzzi & Ellershaw, 2019) is a population-based survey which collected data from around 15,000 adults aged 15 years and over across Australia. Information was collected via interview and around one-third of participants underwent a dental examination. Data presented in this section was sourced from this survey.

In 2017–18, more than half (56%) of adults aged 15 years and over saw a dentist in the last 12 months.

In 2017–18, the proportion of adults aged 15 years and over who had seen a dentist in the last 12 months was:

  • higher for people who live in a capital city (59%) than for people who live in other places (52%)
  • higher for people who had dental insurance (70%) than for people who didn’t (43%)
  • higher for people who usually visit for a check-up (70%) than for those who usually visit for a problem (36%)

Explore the data further in Dental care interactive 1 below.

Dental care interactive 1: Proportion of people who saw a dentist in the last 12 months

Column chart showing adults 15+ who saw a dentist in the last 12 months by selected characteristics. National rate 56.4 per cent.

Column chart showing adults 15+ who saw a dentist in the last 12 months by selected characteristics. National rate 56.4 per cent.

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

In 2017–18, 11% of adults aged 15 years and over last saw a dentist 5 or more years ago.

In 2017–18, the proportion of adults aged 15 years and over who last saw a dentist 5 or more years ago was:

  • higher for those eligible for public dental care (15%) than those ineligible for public dental care (10%)
  • higher for people who had completed year 10 or less (15%) than for people who completed year 11 or more (9.8%).

Explore the data further in Dental care interactive 2 below.

Dental care interactive 2: Proportion of people whose last dental visit was 5 or more years ago

Column chart showing adults 15+ whose last dental visit was 5 or more years ago by selected characteristics. National rate 11.4 per cent.

Column chart showing adults 15+ whose last dental visit was 5 or more years ago by selected characteristics. National rate 11.4 per cent.

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

In 2017–18, more than half (58%) of adults aged 15 years and over reported that they usually visit a dental professional at least once a year.

In 2017–18, the proportion of adults aged 15 years and over who usually visit a dental professional at least once a year was:

  • higher for people who usually visit for a check-up (76%) than those who usually visit for a problem (24%)
  • higher for people with dental insurance (72%) than for those without dental insurance (41%)
  • higher for people who live in a capital city (61%) than for people who live in other places (51%).

Explore the data further in Dental care interactive 3 below.

Dental care interactive 3: Proportion of people who usually visit a dental professional at least once a year, 2017–18

Column chart showing adults 15+ who usually visit a dental professional at least once a year by selected characteristics. National rate 57.5 per cent.

Column chart showing adults 15+ who usually visit a dental professional at least once a year by selected characteristics. National rate 57.5 per cent.

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

In 2017–18, more than three quarters (79%) of adults aged 15 years and over have a dentist which they usually attend.

Also in 2017–18:

  • 82% of adults aged 15 years and over attended a private dental practice
  • 90% of adults aged 15 years and over paid for their last dental visit
  • 22% of adults aged 15 years and over reported unfavourable attendance patterns
  • 65% of adults aged 15 years and over usually visit a dentist for a check-up.

Explore the data further in Dental care interactive 4 below.

Dental care interactive 4: Dental visiting patterns in the Australian population

Column chart showing visiting patterns by age. Among adults 15+, 89.4 per cent paid for their last visit and 78.5 per cent have a usual dentist.

Column chart showing visiting patterns by age. Among adults 15+, 89.4 per cent paid for their last visit and 78.5 per cent have a usual dentist.

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

Previous page
Next page