Procedures for dental caries in children
Data table
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Hospital separations were classified using ICD-9-CM up to 1997-98 and ICD-10-AM from 1998-99 onwards. Rates were age-adjusted using the Australian population as at 30 June 2001. Numbers for 2006-07 include an estimate of the small number of interstate hospitalisations, data for which were unavailable at the time of production.
Source
NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection and ABS population estimates (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Commentary
Hospitalisation rates for the removal or restoration of teeth due to decay among children under the age of five years increased almost two-fold (increased by 89.7%) between 1989-90 and 2006-07. The rates for both males and females increased substantially each year from 1994-95 onwards.
In the period between 1989-90 to 2006-07 the hospitalisation rate for the restoration of teeth only among children aged 0-4 years more than doubled from 68.1 to 143.2 per 100,000 population, and the rate for removal of teeth only doubled (from 56.3 to 114.7 per 100,000 population) in the same period. More than one third of all children in that age group who were hospitalised for restoration or removal of teeth due to dental caries in 2006-07, were admitted for both restoration and removal (138.8 per 100,000).
In this age group, early feeding patterns and prolonged daily use of nursing bottles contributes to dental caries.
Hospitalisation rates for the removal or restoration of teeth due to dental caries in children aged 5-14 years increased more than four times (by 328%, from 83.9 to 359.3 per 100,000) over the period 1989-90 to 2006-07. The hospitalisation rate for the restoration of teeth (only) in this age group also rose by more than four-fold from 15.4 to 65.4 per 100,000 population and the rate for the removal of teeth (only) also more than quadrupled (from 31.6 to 123.2 per 100,000) over this period. The rate of hospitalisations to perform both procedures was the highest of all types of admissions at 36.9 per 100,000 population in 1989-90. It also more than quadrupled, to 151.8 per 100,000 by 2006-07.
Poor dietary and oral hygiene practices are likely to be major contributing factors to dental caries at this age. Some children may be admitted because dental procedures may be difficult to perform in outpatient settings at this age.
The proportion of hospitalisations for removal or restoration of teeth in children aged 0-4 years in public hospitals decreased from 54.9% in 2000-01 to 53.6% in 2006-07. Similarly, for those aged 5-14 years, this proportion decreased from 49.7% in 2000-01 to 45.4% in 2006-07. The proportional shift in favour of private hospitals was more pronounced in 5-14 year olds and the rate of hospitalisations increased more substantially in private hospitals in this age group.
For more information
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.
National Advisory Committee on Oral Health (NACOH) to Australian Health Ministers' Conference. Healthy mouths healthy lives: Australia's national oral health plan 2004-2013 Adelaide: Government of South Australia, 2004.
Jamieson LM, Armfield JM & Roberts-Thomson KF. Oral health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. AIHW cat. no. DEN 167. Dental Statistics and Research Series No. 35. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007. Available at www.adelaide.edu.au/spdent/dsru/pub_frame.html
Centre for Epidemiology and Research. 2005-2006 Report on child health from the New South Wales Population Health Survey. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2008. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/PublicHealth/surveys/hsc/0506/index.asp
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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: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).Produced by
Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health. Last updated on 29 January 2009
