Summary Within the increasing older Australian population, there is a significant group at very high risk for developing complex oral diseases and dental problems—institutionalised older adults in Australian residential care facilities. There are abundant general health, functional, cognitive, social and financial problems among this group of high-risk older adults. These problems are associated not only […]

Summary Oral health of cardholders: number of teeth Among persons visiting for a check-up, there was little variation in the number of teeth between those who attended in the private sector compared with those who attended publicly. However, among persons visiting for a dental problem the number of teeth was higher for those who attended […]

Summary The Relative Needs Index (RNI) Study applied indicators of patient-perceived treatment needs (i.e. symptom-based measures of disease, and social and psychological consequences of oral diseases and disorders) and compared them to a clinical judgment of urgency of care. The RNI study sought to determine the relative need of patients attending for emergency and general […]

Summary From 1994 to 2005 around 4 in 5 children visited a dentist within the previous 12 months. Children aged 5–11 were slightly more likely to visit than children aged 12–17. Non-cardholders and insured children were more likely to have visited within the previous 12 months as were children who usually visit for a check-up […]

Summary The Child Dental Health Survey provides national information on the dental health of children attending school dental services in Australia. This report describes and discusses the survey and presents analyses for the combined years 2003–04. The data cover more than a quarter of a million children from all states and territories except for New […]

Summary The National Dental Telephone Interview Survey (NDTIS) is a computer-assisted telephone survey of a random sample of the Australian population aged 5 years and over. The survey collects basic features of oral health and dental care within the Australian population, including access to services. Surveys were conducted in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005 and […]

Summary This publication explores the relationship between dental attendance patterns and oral health status. The findings are sourced from the 2004–2006 National Survey of Adult Oral Health (NSAOH). In this survey a random sample of Australian adults was interviewed by telephone to collect information on dental attendance patterns and self-reported oral health. An oral examination […]

Summary The dental labour force comprises dentists, dental specialists and allied practitioners, including dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists (dual-qualified hygienists and therapists) and dental prosthetists. The Australian dental labour force in 2006 continued to be dominated by general dental practitioners (67%) and specialists (about 10%). The allied practitioner proportion of 23% was made […]

Summary This report describes the state of oral health of Australian children attending a school dental service (SDS) in 2005 and 2006. The findings are based on analyses of data extracted from the 2005 and 2006 Child Dental Health Surveys (CDHS) for 193,457 children from ages 4 to 15 from most states and territories. Data […]

Summary The majority of Australian children engage in oral health behaviours that are in line with current Australian guidelines on the use of fluoride products. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is the most common oral health behaviour of Australian children. Less than 5% of children brushed less than once a day and nearly all children brushed […]