Tooth retention and loss
Tooth loss can affect both oral function and appearance, and therefore negatively impact on quality of life. Limited oral function is also associated with deteriorating diet and compromised nutrition, which can adversely impact on overall health (NACDH 2012).
Children with missing teeth
The data presented were sourced from the National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14 (Do & Spencer 2016) and reflect teeth lost due to dental decay only, and therefore do not include teeth lost due to exfoliation or dental trauma (for example, as a result of injury).
Around 1 in 20 children aged 5–10 years have at least one deciduous tooth missing due to dental caries
Children aged 5–10 years with at least one deciduous tooth missing due to dental caries were more likely to be:
- Indigenous Australians (9.7%) than non-Indigenous Australians (5.3%)
- from Remote and very remote areas (9.6%) than from Major cities (4.9%)
- from low-income households (9.3%) than from medium-income households (4.3%) and high-income households (2.9%)
- those who last visited the dentist for a dental problem (17%) than those who last visited for a check-up (3.5%).
Around 1 in 100 children aged 6–14 years have as least one permanent tooth missing due to dental caries
Children aged 6–14 years with at least one permanent tooth missing due to dental caries were more likely to be:
- female (1.0%) than male (0.5%)
- Indigenous Australians (1.4%) than non-Indigenous Australians (0.7%)
- those who last visited the dentist for a dental problem (1.4%) than those who last visited for a check-up (0.6%)