IADR Abstract Archives
The National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14, Australia
Objectives: To provide an overview of population oral health status and behaviours of Australian children using data of the recent National Child Oral Health Study (NCOHS) 2012-14.
Methods: NCOHS is a population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 5–14 years in all Australian states/territories. Complex multistage random sample selection and sophisticated data weighting procedures ensured representativeness of the study sample. Detailed oral epidemiological examination to compute prevalence of dental caries and mean decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces (dmfs/DMFS). A parental questionnaire provided comprehensive data on socioeconomic and behaviours factors.
Results: A total of 24,664 children from 841 participating schools had complete data. Some 41% of 5–10 year old children had caries experience in the primary dentition with mean dmfs of 3.1. For the permanent dentition among 6–14 year old children, some 23% had caries with mean DMFS of 0.7. Some 27% and 10% had untreated decay in their primary and permanent dentitions, respectively. There is evidence of substantial social patterning of oral health status, dental service use and dental and general health behaviours among Australian children. Children of households with low income, low parental education attainment and Indigenous children had higher level of dental caries than their counterparts with higher socioeconomic status.
Conclusions: Child oral health has remained a significant population health issue in Australia. Periodic population-based surveys of child oral health are valuable in informing relevant oral health policies and practices. It also provides a platform for understanding determinants of child oral health.
Methods: NCOHS is a population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 5–14 years in all Australian states/territories. Complex multistage random sample selection and sophisticated data weighting procedures ensured representativeness of the study sample. Detailed oral epidemiological examination to compute prevalence of dental caries and mean decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces (dmfs/DMFS). A parental questionnaire provided comprehensive data on socioeconomic and behaviours factors.
Results: A total of 24,664 children from 841 participating schools had complete data. Some 41% of 5–10 year old children had caries experience in the primary dentition with mean dmfs of 3.1. For the permanent dentition among 6–14 year old children, some 23% had caries with mean DMFS of 0.7. Some 27% and 10% had untreated decay in their primary and permanent dentitions, respectively. There is evidence of substantial social patterning of oral health status, dental service use and dental and general health behaviours among Australian children. Children of households with low income, low parental education attainment and Indigenous children had higher level of dental caries than their counterparts with higher socioeconomic status.
Conclusions: Child oral health has remained a significant population health issue in Australia. Periodic population-based surveys of child oral health are valuable in informing relevant oral health policies and practices. It also provides a platform for understanding determinants of child oral health.