Is poor access to dental care why people outside capital cities have poor oral health?

Background : Why oral health status outside capital cities is poorer than that in capital cities has not been satisfactorily explained. The aim of this study was to determine if the reason was poorer access to dental care. Methods : Data were obtained from the Australian National Survey of Adult Ora...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian dental journal 2012-12, Vol.57 (4), p.477-485
Main Authors: Crocombe, LA, Stewart, JF, Brennan, DS, Slade, GD, Spencer, AJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access to care
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
allied health
Australia - epidemiology
Cities - epidemiology
Dental Care - utilization
Dental Caries - epidemiology
Dental Caries - prevention & control
Dentistry
DMF Index
epidemiology
Female
Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oral Health
rural
Sex Distribution
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tooth Loss - epidemiology
utilization of health services
Young Adult
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Summary:Background : Why oral health status outside capital cities is poorer than that in capital cities has not been satisfactorily explained. The aim of this study was to determine if the reason was poorer access to dental care. Methods : Data were obtained from the Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health (2004–06). Oral health status was measured by DMFT Index, and numbers of decayed, missing and filled teeth. A two‐step analysis was undertaken: comparing the dependent variables by location, socio‐demographic confounders and preventive dental behaviours, and then including six access to dental care variables. Results : Of the 14 123 people interviewed, 5505 were examined, and 4170 completed the questionnaire. With socio‐economic parameters in the first regression model, non‐capital city people had higher DMFT (regression coefficient = 1.15, p 
ISSN:0045-0421
1834-7819
DOI:10.1111/adj.12000