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Report of the
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Oral health
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Report of the
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Oral health
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| Note: | The questions used for this indicator were: In the last 12 months, how often has [child] had a toothache or other problem with his/her mouth or dentures? Very often, often, sometimes, hardly ever or never, What was the most recent problem [child] had? and What treatment did [child] receive for the most recent oral health problem he/she had? Estimates based on 1,977 respondents. 0 (0%) were not stated (Don't know or Refused) in NSW. LL/UL 95%CI = lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence interval for the point estimate. Statistical Local Areas were grouped according to Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness categories on the basis of Accessibility/Remoteness Index for Australia (ARIA+ version) score. |
| Source: | NSW Population Health Survey (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health. |
The oral health of NSW children has improved over recent decades, with a dramatic decline in the dental caries (tooth decay) experience.
In the NSW Population Health Survey 2003-04, more than half of the children aged 5-8 years (59.8%) and 9-15 (68%) were reported to have had a dental visit or treatment in the previous 12 months. The most frequent dental visits reported were for dental fillings (25.7%), check ups (15.8%) and extractions (12.1%).
The main differences between the age groups were that younger children were reported to have had more dental fillings (29.5% younger to 23.7% older) and fluoride treatment (1.8% younger to 0.7% older), while braces were reported more frequently in the older age group (8.0% older to 0.2% younger)(CER, 2006).
Most children who had a dental treatment reported visiting a private dental practice (52.9% in younger children and 70.3% in older children). Treatment from a school dental service was also common, with 25.1% of treatments occurring at school in younger children and 14.3% in older children. The children of mothers older than 25, with tertiary qualifications and English speaking background were more likely to be reported as having visited a dentist in the previous 12 months (CER, 2006). This finding is consistent with national studies which provided evidence of differential access to dental services according to country of birth, language spoken at home, insurance status and mother's educational status (AHMAC, 2001; AIHW, 2000). School dental services were utilised more by children who are less advantaged (AIHW, 2000).
| For more information: |
Centre for Epidemiology and Research. New South Wales Population Health Survey website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/survey/hsurvey.html Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Committee. Oral health of Australians: National planning for oral health improvement: final report Adelaide: South Australian Department of Human Services, 2001. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Dental Statistics and Research Unit. Child Dental Health Survey, New South Wales, 2000. Adelaide: AIHW, 2003. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Dental Statistics and Research Unit. Access to dental services of Australian children and adolescents. Research report. Adelaide: AIHW, January 2000. |
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| Downloadable files: | The data contained in the table on this page are available for download as a CSV file which can be imported into many software packages. The graph is available for download as an EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) file and as an EMF (Enhanced Metafile Format) file. Files in these formats can be imported into most word processing, presentation and graphics software packages. |
| Copyright notice: | This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited. |
| Suggested citation: | Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/ora/ora_txkid_type_age.htm. Accessed (insert date of access). |
| Produced by: | Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health. |
| Last updated on: | 23 November 2006 |
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