Changes in caries experience among Australian public dental patients between 1995/96 and 2001/02

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Health Card holders are a financially disadvantaged group and are the target population eligible for public‐funded dental care. The aims of this study were to describe the oral health status of public‐funded dental patients by age, sex, type of care and geographic location, and to compare trends over time. Methods: Patients were sampled randomly by State/Territory dental services in 1995/96 and 2001/02. Dentists recorded oral health status at the initial visit of a course of care using written instructions. The samples were weighted in proportion to the numbers of public‐funded dental patients for each State/Territory. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that caries experience measured by the DMFT index increased across older age groups (p<0.05). For male compared with female patients mean numbers of decayed teeth were higher (β=0.74), and filled teeth lower (β=‐1.16). For emergency compared with general care, mean numbers of decayed and missing teeth were higher (β=0.52 and β=0.76), and filled teeth lower (β=‐1.08). For major city compared with regional/remote patients, mean numbers of decayed (β=‐0.35) and missing teeth were lower (β=‐0.34). Between 1995/96 and 2001/02 numbers of decayed teeth were higher (β=0.81) while numbers of filled teeth were lower (β=‐0.55). Conclusions: There was variation in oral health among public dental patients by sex, type of care and location, and there was a trend towards lower numbers of filled teeth but higher numbers of decayed teeth and higher overall caries experience over time. Implications: Despite population trends towards improved oral health, levels of untreated decayed teeth have increased among public dental patients.