Relative oral health outcome trends between people inside and outside capital city areas of Australia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate relative change over 17 years in clinical oral health outcomes inside and outside capital city areas of Australia. METHODS: Using data from the National Oral Health Survey of Australia 1987-88 and the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06, relative trends in clinical oral health outcomes inside and outside capital city areas were measured by age and gender standardized changes in the percentage of edentate people and dentate adults with less than 21 teeth, in mean numbers of decayed, missing and filled teeth, and mean DMFT index. RESULTS: There were similar reductions inside and outside capital city areas in the percentage of edentate people (capital city 63.7%, outside capital city 60.7%) and dentate people with less than 21 teeth (52.5%, 50.1%), in the mean number of missing teeth (34.3%, 34.5%), filled teeth (0.0%, increase of 5.5%), and mean DMFT index (21.2%, 19.2%). The reduction in mean number of decayed teeth was greater in capital city areas (78.0%) than outside capital city areas (50.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Trends in four of the five clinical oral health outcomes demonstrated improvements in oral health that were of a similar magnitude inside and outside capital city areas of Australia.

Oral health status of prison inmates--New South Wales, Australia.

BACKGROUND: This paper assesses the oral health status in a prison population and identifies risk factors associated with oral health. METHODS: Cross-sectional stratified random sample of 789 prisoners (657 males and 132 females) from 27 correctional centres across New South Wales, stratified by sex, age and aboriginality. A face to face interview was used to collect information on health status and behavioural risk factors. A subset of participants (312 males and 22 females) received an oral examination which enabled the decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) score to be calculated. RESULTS: In the last 12 months 391 (50 per cent) inmates had visited a dentist. Reports on treatment received at this last visit were mainly for dental examinations, (62 per cent), dental fillings, (38 per cent), and dental extractions (28 per cent). Self-reported dental needs indicated that 42 per cent perceived the need for a check-up; the perceived need for dental fillings was highest in females compared with males. The mean DMFT for the population was 20.4 and 3.4 for decayed teeth. CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrates that the standard of past oral health care for prison inmates is low. There is a need to be more attentive to oral health promotion as eventually respondents will be returning to the community.

Dental informatics for Australia.

Dentistry is undergoing significant changes with need for the dentist to manage a larger body of knowledge and information. There will be increasing reliance on electronic information systems in education, research, and dental practice. Dental informatics is concerned with computer and information science and technology and communications. Goals, that could be adopted for Australia, were proposed in the USA in 1989. Specific action steps that could meet those goals are proposed for Australia.

Changes in the pattern of sugar (sucrose) consumption in Australia 1958-1988.

The study reports on data relating to the apparent consumption, food content, and contribution of different food groups to the sugar (sucrose) intake in Australia. The trends and patterns of sugar (sucrose) usage have been summarised. The apparent annual sugar consumption has remained very high (up to 50 kg per person) for the last three decades with an increase in sugar consumed in manufactured foods. There has been some decrease in sugar consumed in confectionery, bakeries and vegetable products and as refined sugar. The greatest increase in sugar intake has been through non-alcoholic beverages, ice-cream and frozen confectionery, and cereals. The prevalence of dental caries in Australia has dropped dramatically over the past three decades while the consumption of sugar remains very high.

Computer use in private dental practice in Australia, 1991.

There was a 70 per cent response to a mail questionnaire to a 1:3 sample of Australian Dental Association members in private practices (n = 1931). Computers were used by 37 per cent of practices. Main computer applications used were for: accounting (84%); patient billing (80%); word processing (79%); and patient recall (61%). External bureau services were used by 4 per cent of practices with most computers being in-house (single terminal 66%; multiple terminal 33%). The more dentists in a practice, the more likely was a computer to be used. Principal users were secretary/receptionists. Service and software were the most important factors in choice of computer system. Many practice computer users (67%) also had a Personal Computer at home compared with only 36 per cent of the non-users. Many respondents indicated the need for continuing education in computers (67% users; 61% non-users). More than half of the non-users indicated future use of computers for accounting, billing and recall. There has been a considerable increase in the use of computers in private practice (37%) since the Australian Dental Association Dental Practice Survey in 1983/84 (9%).

Some social characteristics and background of first-year dental students, University of Sydney, 1976-85.

This paper presents some information, derived by questionnaire, on the social characteristics and background of 1148 first-year dental students at the University of Sydney for the years 1976-1985. Student entry age was 19.4 years; 27 per cent were female; 36 per cent of fathers and 24 per cent of mothers were professionals and 37 per cent of fathers and 11 per cent of mothers had attended university; parents of female students had higher educational levels than parents of male students; 55 per cent had medicine as the course of first preference. Eighty-five per cent of students entered dentistry from high school with 78 per cent from Sydney. Characteristics of students showed little change over the period 1976-1985. Some changes noted were an increase in the number of female students with fewer living in their parents' home; increase in number of students from government schools; decrease in foreign students but an increase in students (Australian citizens, or residents) born overseas, and of different ethnic backgrounds.

Effect of stannous fluoride treatments on the progression of initial lesions in approximal surfaces of permanent posterior teeth.

Bite-wing radiographs were used to determine the effect of three forms of topical SnF2 therapy on the progression of initial lesions in the approximal surfaces of permanent posterior teeth. Radiographs were taken annually over a four-year period. The subjects were schoolchildren, aged 12-14 yr, living in a low fluoride area. The professional application of a 10% SnF2 solution for 30 s, semi-annually for two yr, had no discernible effect on the development of the initial lesions. However, the home use of a SnF2 dentifrice did inhibit caries progression appreciably at all but one of the four time intervals in the study. The professional application of a 10% SnF2 solution for 30 s, semi-annually for two yr, combined with the home use of a SnF2 dentifrice, was the most effective treatment in retarding lesion development. Even without topical fluoride therapy, the rate of progression of initial approximal lesions was generally quite slow. In view of these findings, it would seem sound clinical practice to treat all initial lesions in approximal surfaces with topical fluoride therapy and delay placement of restorations until there is radiographic evidence of lesions reaching dentin.

The providers of dental services.

There has been a rapid increase in the number of providers in dental services in Australia. The relative increase of dentists has been at a greater rate than that of the population. There has been a marked increase in the number of operating dental auxiliaries employed as school dental therapists in government services and of self-employed denturists. Employment of dental hygienists by private dental practitioners is still limited. The active dentist workforce is approximately 80 per cent of the number of dentists on the registers and about 82 per cent of the active dentist workforce has been maintained with an increase in the proportion of women and of specialists. The number of dental graduates from Australian universities appears adequate to meet population increases and the loss of dentists from the registers. A very high rate of new registration of overseas dentists has created some oversupply in the private practice sector. Emphasis should be placed on the Australian dental schools for the continuing supply of dental graduates, specialist and continuing education to meet the needs of the Australian community. There is an urgent need for co-ordination of relevant registration authorities through national schedules and for the collection of information concerning the disposition of the Australian dental workforce to enable continuing evaluation of present and future workforce requirements.

Dental conditions in high school students, Sydney, 1972.

Dental examinations of 1,895 first year students of nine Sydney metropolitan State high schools were carried out in 1972. The schools were chosen from three socio-economic areas representing upper-middle, lower-middle, and working class groups. Minimal differences were shown in the prevalence of dental diseases, treatment needs, and dental practices between the upper-middle and lower-middle socio-economic groups. The working class group showed a higher prevalence of dental caries, gingivitis, and treatment needs and reported different dental health practices from the other groups.

Oral health care in Australia.

The study data on oral health status for this age group was consistent with previous recent studies. The sociological data added considerably to the knowledge of the charactistics of this group in the area sampled in New South Wales, Australia. The system of delivery of oral health services mainly through private practice appears to be providing comprehensive treatment to a segment of the student population fairly well defined by sociological variables reported in the analysis. However, only limited services appear to be reaching sizeable remainder.

Dental survey of students at the Australian National University -- 1972.

A sample of 422 students at the Australian National University was examined in 1972. Results for the 302 full-time student sample were considered significant and are presented in this report. The students were found to have a relatively low (for Australia) DMFT of 13.8, Oral Hygiene Index of 0.9 and Periodontal Index of 0.75. Seventy-two percent of students had attended a dentist within the previous year and F/DMFT ratio was 76 percent. Estimates of time and costs of treatment needs are presented.

A community dental health project. I. Self applied SnF2-ZrSiO4 prophylactic paste and dental caries in primary school children.

A dental health programme which employed group self prophylaxis by school children aged 5-9 years is described. The group used 10 per cent SnF2-ZrSiO4 paste and was supervised within the school by an auxiliary of parents under the direction of a dentist. There was a 36 per cent reduction in DMFT increment at the end of two years in the children aged 7-9 years.

Darwin dental survey--1972.

An examination limited to the recording of dental caries, periodontal disease and oral hygiene of 1592 children aged 3-14 years resident in Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia was made in August, 1972. Ther survey provides base-line data for future assessment of the value of fluoridation. Forty-two per cent of the children had received regular fluoride supplements and dental caries prevalence was lower than expected for a non-fluoridated Australian community.

Time of natural exfoliation of deciduous teeth.

Over 6000 naturally exfoliated deciduous teeth were sent in to the Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Sydney over a 10-year period 1964-1974. Adequate histories for 2,828 teeth from 1,558 children were used to determine average ages of children at time of exfoliation of the teeth. Teeth lost at an earlier age were most frequently returned with similar numbers of left and right teeth. There were no differences in exfoliation times for corresponding teeth from left and right sides of arches. Girls had earlier exfoliation times than boys and lower teeth were generally exfoliated prior to upper teeth.

Practical recording of dental caries increment.

Records obtained from regular dental patients at initial examination are transferred to punch cards. Subsequent data entered on punch cards. Provision is made for transferring basic and amended information to new cards when required. Analysis of incremental data can be used to evaluate changes in practice and assess work load.