Report of the New South Wales Chief Health Officer, 1997

Graphic: Dental Health - adult hospitalisation

Age group Sex 1989/90 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96
All ages Males 153.2 169.3 204.6 231.7 248.3 236.1 259.4
  Females 245.0 278.0 325.1 384.7 416.4 392.3 414.1
  Persons 198.2 222.5 263.7 306.8 330.8 312.8 335.2
15 years and over Males 146.6 160.8 195.7 231.0 248.8 239.6 259.0
  Females 261.0 297.8 353.8 420.4 461.3 438.5 457.5
  Persons 202.7 227.8 273.2 324.0 353.1 337.3 356.3

Note: Removal or restoration of teeth was classified according to the ICD9 code 23. Hospital separation rates were age-adjusted using the Australian population as at 30 June 1991. Hospital separations in 1995/96 do not include NSW residents treated in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia or Queensland.
Sources:NSW Health Department Inpatients Statistics Collection (ISC) and ABS population estimates (HOIST), Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, NSW Health Department.
Hospital inpatient separations for the removal or restoration of teeth among children under the age of four years increased in the period 1988/89 to 1991/92, and subsequently declined, rising again slightly in 1994/95.

The main reason for inpatient dental care of infants and young children is rampant dental caries caused by the prolonged daily use of nursing bottles.

Hospital inpatient separations for the removal or restoration of teeth among children aged 5-14 years rose by almost 30 per cent over the period 1988/89 to 1994/95.

The predominant reason for inpatient dental care of children in this age category is extensive dental caries. Among younger children (5-6 years) in this age group, this is likely to be the result of prolonged nursing bottle use, while among older children, poor dietary and oral hygiene practices are a major contributing factor. Some children may also be admitted because of behavioural problems.

For more information, see: National Health Strategy, Improving dental health in Australia, Background paper no. 9, National Health Strategy, Canberra, 1992.
Australian Dental Association
Produced by Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Public Health Division, New South Wales Health Department on 23 March 1998.