ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3916-0058
Current Organisations
University of Tasmania
,
University of Papua New Guinea
,
University of Adelaide
,
La Trobe University
,
Deakin University - Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds
,
Australasian College of Health Service Management
,
University of Melbourne
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Publications
Impact of dental visiting trajectory patterns on clinical oral health and oral health‐related quality of life
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-10-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1752-7325.2011.00281.X
Abstract: Previous studies have shown variation in long-term dental visiting but little is known about the oral health outcomes of such variation. The objective of this study is to determine the association of different dental visiting trajectories with dental clinical and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) indicators. This study utilized data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a continuing longitudinal study of 1,037 babies born in Dunedin (New Zealand) between April 1, 1972 and March 31, 1973. Data presented here were collected at ages 15, 18, 26, and 32 years. Three categories of dental attendance were identified in earlier research, namely: regulars (n = 285, 30.9 percent of the cohort), decliners (441, 55.9 percent), and opportunistic users (107, 13.1 percent). There was a statistically significant association between opportunistic dental visiting behavior and decayed missing and filled surfaces score (Beta = 3.9) as well as missing teeth because of caries (Beta = 0.7). Nonregular dental visiting trajectories were associated with higher Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) scores (Beta = 2.1) and lower self-rated oral health scores (prevalence ratio = 0.8). Long-term, postchildhood dental attendance patterns are associated with oral health in adulthood, whether defined by clinical dental indicators or OHRQoL. Improving dental visiting behavior among low socioeconomic status groups would have the greatest effect on improving oral health and reducing oral health impacts.
Decline of the edentulism epidemic in Australia: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2007
Dental visiting trajectory patterns and their antecedents
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-09-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1752-7325.2010.00196.X
Abstract: This study aimed to test whether socioeconomic status (SES) in childhood may affect dental visiting patterns between ages 18 and 32 years. Using data from a complete birth cohort, childhood SES status was measured (using the New Zealand Elley-Irving index) at each study stage between birth and 15 years. Longitudinal dental visiting data were available for 833 study participants from ages 15, 18, 26, and 32, and these were analyzed by trajectory analysis. Three separate dental visiting trajectories were identified these were categorized as opportunists (13.1%), decliners (55.9%), and routine attenders (30.9%). Bivariate analyses showed low SES in childhood, male sex, and dental anxiety to be associated with membership of the "opportunist" dental visiting trajectory. Multinomial logistic regression showed that low childhood SES and dental anxiety were statistically significant predictors for membership in the opportunist or decliner trajectories after accounting for potential confounding variables. In iduals who grew up experiencing low childhood SES were less likely to adopt a routine dental visiting trajectory in adulthood than those with a high childhood SES. Dental anxiety was also an important predictor of dental visiting patterns.
The Association of Socioeconomic Status and Dental Caries Experience in Children in Dili, Timor-Leste
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 24-09-2016
Abstract: Timor-Leste is one of the poorest countries in the world. The aim of this article was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and dental caries experience in children living in Dili. Four out of 6 Dili subdistricts and 40 schools were randomly selected. Equal numbers of school children from 4 age groups (6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17 years) were invited to participate. Data were gathered via a questionnaire and an oral examination by dental practitioners. In bivariate analysis, decayed, missing, and filled teeth index for deciduous + permanent teeth (dmft) was higher in children from mid- to high-SES than low-SES schools (1.1, 2.2, P = .001). With age, having had a toothache and dental visiting in the past 12 months in the multivariable model, higher dmft was found in children from mid- to high- to low-SES schools ( P .001). The primary dental caries experience was greater among children from mid- to high- than low-SES schools, which may be explained by high sugar consumption.
Costly chronic diseases: a retrospective analysis of Chronic Disease Dental Scheme expenditure
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1071/AH14191
Abstract: Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate Medicare rebate claim trends under the Australian Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS) over time, region and type of service. Methods CDDS data obtained from the Department of Human Services reflected all Medicare item claims lodged under the CDDS by dental practitioners and processed by Medicare. Retrospective analysis of CDDS rebate claims was conducted. Results The CDDS rebates for the period 2008–13 totalled A$2.8 billion. Just under 81% of claims were from dental practitioners working in major cities. The most frequent rebates were for crown, bridge and implant (32.4%), removable prostheses (22.4%) and restorative services (21.3%). The rebate claims of restorative services, crown and bridge, and removable prostheses per dentist in all regional areas increased over the time of the CDDS. Per capita, the rebates for every type of dental service were lower in the more remote regions. Conclusions Rebate claims increased in each of the last 3 full years of the CDDS across all areas. The majority of Medicare rebate claims were from major city areas and for crown and bridge, removable prostheses and restorative services. The service mix varied between regions. What is known about the topic? The CDDS was described as ‘unsustainable’ from the governmental budgetary perspective, being controversial around the value of the program, ‘poorly targeted’ and having implementation and administrative requirement shortfalls. What does this paper add? The CDDS rebates for the period 2008–13 totalled A$2.8 billion, with just under 81% of claims from dental practitioners working in major cities. The services with the highest rebate claims were crown and bridge, removable prostheses and restorative services. What are the implications for practitioners? In future such schemes, the type of services offered could be reviewed regularly by policymakers in order to control item expenses. The take-up of Government dental schemes may be slow to start, but will tend to increase rapidly over the life of the scheme.
Views of Australian dental practitioners towards rural recruitment and retention: a descriptive study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-2016
The influence of the volume of dental treatment on change in self‐reported oral health
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-07-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1752-7325.2012.00352.X
Abstract: To find an association between self-reported change in oral health and dental treatment volume. Baseline data were obtained from the Tasmanian component of the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06 and 12-month follow-up data from service use logbooks and mail self-complete questionnaires. The global oral health transition statement indicated change in oral health. Many putative confounders were analyzed and Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to calculate the prevalence ratios and 95 percent confidence intervals for bivariate- and multivariate-adjusted relationships. One-eighth (12.4 percent) of the participants reported that their oral health had improved. Over half visited a dentist (n=176, 52.6 percent), of whom 105 received less than six dental services and 71 received six or more dental services. Baseline oral disease (P=0.01), having a treatment need (P<0.01), usually visiting a dentist for a problem (P<0.05), and having a lot of difficulty paying a $100 dental bill (P=0.01) were significantly associated with the same or worsening oral health. The regression model indicated that having six or more dental services (P<0.01) was significantly associated with improvement in oral health, indicating a threshold effect. Usually visiting a dentist for a check-up was significantly associated with improvement in oral health (P<0.01). Having six or more dental services was significantly associated with a greater self-reported improvement in oral health than having less than six dental services. The greater prevalence ratios with increasing dental service volume suggested a threshold effect.
Comparison of adult oral health in Australia, the USA, Germany and the UK
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-05-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1834-7819.2009.01108.X
Abstract: Australian adults reportedly have poor oral health when compared to 28 other OECD countries. The Australian ranking was based on edentulism and caries experience data from selected age groups that apparently were collected in 1987-88. The objective of this study was to compare the oral health of Australian adults with that of three other western countries that have comprehensive oral health survey data. Published data were obtained from the NHANES 2003-2004, the Fourth German Oral Health Study 2005 and the UK Adult Dental Health Survey 1998. Data from the Australian NSAOH 2004-06 were analysed to generate comparable age-specific estimates using nine dental clinical indicators, two measures of oral hygiene behaviour and two of dental attendance. Australia had the best oral health based on two clinical indicators, was equal first on three indicators and ranked second in the remaining clinical indicators. Australia ranked first or second based on dental flossing, use of mouthwash and frequency of dental attendance. The oral health of the Australian adult population was among the best of the four nations studied.
Access to dental care barriers and poor clinical oral health in Australian regional populations
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-07-2022
DOI: 10.1111/ADJ.12930
Abstract: This paper investigated the associations between oral health with behavioural, demographic, periodontitis risk, financial and access to dental care barriers and compared the results in three Australian regional areas. Data were obtained from the Australian National Study of Adult Oral Health (2017–18). Oral health status was measured using DMFT‐score, and mean numbers of decayed, missing or filled teeth and periodontitis prevalence using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Periodontal Classification. The analysis included these dependent variables by three regional areas, seven socio‐demographic variables, two periodontal disease risk factors, two preventive dental behaviours, two barriers to dental care and three access to dental care variables. Of the 15,731 people interviewed, 5,022 were examined. There was no significant difference in periodontitis prevalence between the regions. All the socio‐demographic characteristics, periodontal disease risk factors and preventive dental behaviours were significantly associated with at least one of the dental caries indicators. In multivariable analysis, there was no significant association between regional location with any of the four clinical dental caries variables. Poorer oral health outside major cities was associated with household income, education level, higher smoking, usual reason for and frequency of dental visiting.
Does lower lifetime fluoridation exposure explain why people outside capital cities have poor clinical oral health?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-02-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ADJ.12315
Abstract: Australians outside state capital cities have greater caries experience than their counterparts in capital cities. We hypothesized that differing water fluoridation exposure was associated with this disparity. Data were the 2004-06 Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health. Examiners measured participant decayed, missing and filled teeth and DMFT Index, and lifetime fluoridation exposure was quantified. Multivariable linear regression models estimated differences in caries experience between capital city residents and others, with and without adjustment for fluoridation exposure. There was greater mean lifetime fluoridation exposure in state capital cities (59.1%, 95% confidence interval = 56.9, 61.4) than outside capital cities (42.3, confidence interval = 36.9, 47.6). People located outside capital city areas had differing sociodemographic characteristics and dental visiting patterns, and a higher mean DMFT (capital cities = 12.9, non-capital cities = 14.3, p = 0.02), than people from capital cities. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and dental visits, DMFT of people living in capital cities was less than non-capital city residents (regression coefficient = 0.8, p = 0.01). The disparity was no longer statistically significant (regression coefficient = 0.6, p = 0.09) after additional adjustment for fluoridation exposure.
Non‐Clinical Factors Associated With Referrals to Periodontal Specialists: A Systematic Review
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2017
Abstract: Comprehensive understanding of the referral process and factors associated with it will assist general dentist (GD)-periodontist relationships and benefit patient care and services. Non-clinical factors (NCFs) influence clinical decision making but are rarely considered. The objective of this review is to identify NCFs found to be associated with referrals to periodontal specialists. A systematic review of English-language literature was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. An electronic search was carried out using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Sources, and PubMed. Search terms used included: 1) refer 2) referral 3) periodontal and 4) periodontist. Potentially relevant publications were analyzed in detail using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Selected papers were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and data extracted were thematically synthesized. Ten studies that examined NCFs fulfilled inclusion criteria. Four NCF themes identified were practice-, GD-, patient-, and periodontist-related factors. Limited literature is available on NCFs associated with referrals to periodontal specialists. Within the limits of this systematic review, NCFs affecting the referral process are practice-, GD-, patient-, and periodontist-related factors. These vary among different GD populations studied. Factors that could be targeted to improve referral processes include geographic location, undergraduate training, and continuing professional development.
Is it time for an advanced rural dentist?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2014
DOI: 10.1111/AJR.12093
Rural dental health care and the workforce challenges
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.5694/MJA14.01379
Is clinical oral health poorer in regional areas compared with major city areas?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2013
DOI: 10.1111/AJR.12034
Abstract: To determine if clinical oral health outcomes differ between people who reside in major city, inner regional and outer regional areas of Australia. Data from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06 that used a clustered stratified random s ling design with telephone interviews, standardised oral epidemiological examinations and self-complete questionnaires were used to compare the clinical oral health. Decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth. Australians aged 15 years or more. Data were weighted by age, sex and regional location to the Estimated Resident Population, bivariate analysis undertaken to determine confounders and multivariate analysis completed with dental caries clinical measures as dependent variables. Inner regional people had a significantly higher decayed, missing and filled teeth than people from major cities (Estimate = 1.15, P < 0.01), but there was no difference between inner and regional areas. Older people had higher outcomes for decayed, missing and filled teeth (15.42, P < 0.01) and missing teeth (9.66, P < 0.01), but less decayed teeth (-0.37, P < 0.01), and people with the highest incomes had lower dental caries experience (-1.34, P < 0.01) and missing teeth (-1.42, P < 0.01). Dental caries experience was greater in inner regional areas than in major city areas, but not outer regional areas. Dental caries experience was similar in outer regional and major city areas.
Oral health messages for the Australian public. Findings of a national consensus workshop#
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-07-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1834-7819.2011.01339.X
Abstract: The Australian National Oral Health Plan 2004-2013 noted the importance of oral health promotion in improving oral health and stated that broad agreement was required on a consistent suite of evidence-based oral health promotion messages. Consistent messages are needed to avoid confusion among the public and to assist the advocacy for oral health being integrated into general health promotion. A workshop was held to examine the scientific evidence and develop consensus oral health messages for the Australian public which are in line with the general health messages recommended by Australian health authorities.
Is self interdental cleaning associated with dental plaque levels, dental calculus, gingivitis and periodontal disease?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-09-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1600-0765.2011.01420.X
Abstract: To ascertain whether interdental cleaning behaviours of Australian adults were associated with lower levels of plaque, gingivitis and periodontal disease. Data were obtained from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06. Outcome variables were three indicators of oral hygiene outcomes (the presence or not of dental plaque, dental calculus and gingivitis) and two of periodontal disease (the presence or not of at least one tooth with a periodontal pocket or clinical attachment loss of ≥ 4 mm). The independent variable was classified into the following three groups: regularly clean interproximally 'at least daily' (daily+) 'less than daily' (< daily) and 'do not regularly clean interproximally' (reference group). Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) relative to the reference group, adjusted for covariates. Regular self interdental cleaning was associated with less dental plaque (< daily, PR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.84, 0.95 and daily+, PR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.82, 0.96), less dental calculus (< daily, PR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.80, 0.97 and daily+, PR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.70, 0.89) and lower levels of moderate/severe gingivitis (daily+, PR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.94). Periodontal pocketing was less likely for the < daily group (PR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.46, 0.82), but was not associated with daily+ cleaning (PR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.663, 1.49). There was not a significant association between interdental cleaning and clinical attachment loss (< daily, PR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.77, 1.05 and daily+, PR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.95, 1.44). Regular interdental cleaning was associated with better oral hygiene outcomes, such as dental plaque and gingivitis, although there was no significant association between regular interdental cleaning and clinical attachment loss.
Does optimal access to dental care counteract the oral health‐related quality of life social gradient?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ADJ.12393
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if an oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) social gradient existed when Australian Defence Force (ADF) members have universal and optimal access to dental care. A nominal roll included 4089 in iduals who were deployed to the Solomon Islands as part of Operation ANODE and a comparison group of 4092 ADF personnel frequency matched to the deployed group on gender, age group and service type, from which 500 deployed and 500 comparison in iduals were randomly selected. The dependent variables were the OHIP-14 summary measures. Rank was used to determine socioeconomic status. The demographic variables selected were: gender and age. The response rate was 44%. Of the in idual OHIP-14 items, being self-conscious, painful aching and having discomfort when eating were the most common problems. Mean OHIP-14 severity was 2.8. In bivariate analysis, there was not a significant difference in mean OHIP-14 severity (p = 0.52) or frequency of OHIP-14 impacts (p = 0.57) by military rank. There was a significant increasing OHIP-14 extent score from commissioned officer to non-commissioned officer to other ranks (0.07, 0.19, 0.40, p = 0.03). Even with optimal access to dental care, there was an OHRQoL social gradient between military ranks in the ADF.
Clinical oral health of A ustralia's rural children in a sample attending school dental services
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.1111/AJR.12107
Abstract: To examine the association between children's clinical oral health status and their residential location using the latest available data (2009) and to ascertain whether poor oral health among rural children is related to being Indigenous, having less access to fluoridated water or being of lower socioeconomic status (SES), than children from urban areas. Cross-sectional survey. Data were collected on 74, 467 children aged 5-12 years attending school dental services in Australia (data were not available for Victoria or New South Wales). Clinical oral health was determined by the mean number of permanent teeth with untreated caries, missing and filled permanent teeth, and the mean decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth index (DMFT) of 8 to 12-year-old-children and the mean number deciduous teeth with untreated caries, missing and filled deciduous teeth, and the mean decayed, missing and filled deciduous teeth index (dmft) of 5-10-year-olds. The multivariable models that included coefficients on whether the child was Indigenous, from an area with fluoridated water and SES, were controlled for age and sex. The mean DMFT of 8-12-year-old children and the mean dmft of 5-10-year-old-children were significantly higher in rural areas compared with urban centres after accounting for Indigenous status, fluoridated water and SES. Children's oral health was poorer in rural areas than in major city areas.
Australian nursing students’ perception, knowledge, and attitude towards oral healthcare of older people and associated factors: a national cross-sectional survey
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-06-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S12912-023-01366-X
Abstract: The oral health of many older Australians is poor and associated with many systemic health problems. However, nurses often have a limited understanding of the importance of oral healthcare for older people. This study aimed to investigate Australian nursing students’ perception, knowledge, and attitude toward providing oral healthcare for older people and associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among final year nursing students studying at accredited nursing programs using an online self-reported 49-item survey. The data were analysed using univariate and bivariate analysis ( t -test, ANOVA, Spearman’s correlation test). A total of 416 final-year nursing students from 16 accredited programs in Australia completed the survey. Mean scores showed that more than half of the participants felt they lacked confidence (55%, n = 229) and had limited knowledge about oral healthcare for older people (73%, n = 304) however, their attitude towards providing such care was favourable (89%, n = 369). A positive correlation was found between students’ confidence in delivering oral healthcare to older people and their perceived knowledge ( r = 0.13, p 0.01). Results revealed a statistically significant positive association between students’ experience in providing oral healthcare to older people and students’ perception ( t = 4.52, p 0.001), knowledge ( t = 2.87, p 0.01), and attitude ( t = 2.65, p 0.01) mean scores in such care. Nearly 60% (n = 242) of participants received education/training in oral healthcare for older people at university, but this was often for less than one hour. Around 56% (n = 233) believed that the current nursing curriculum did not prepare them to provide effective oral healthcare to older people. Findings suggested a need for nursing curricula to be revised to include oral health education and clinical experience. Knowledge of evidence-based oral healthcare by nursing students may improve the quality of oral healthcare for older people.
Relative oral health outcome trends between people inside and outside capital city areas of Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1834-7819.2010.01235.X
Abstract: 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. 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. 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%). 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.
Non-dental primary care providers’ views on challenges in providing oral health services and strategies to improve oral health in Australian rural and remote communities: a qualitative study
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2015
A Review of Mercury Exposure and Health of Dental Personnel
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
Understanding the Research–Policy Divide for Oral Health Inequality
Publisher: Longwoods Publishing
Date: 28-11-2014
Developing a Questionnaire to Assess the Perception, Knowledge, And Attitude of Nursing Students in Providing Oral Health Care to Older People, And Associated Influential Factors
Publisher: GRF Publishers Pty Ltd
Date: 20-07-2021
DOI: 10.53634/100030
Is poor access to dental care why people outside capital cities have poor oral health?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-10-2012
DOI: 10.1111/ADJ.12000
Abstract: 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. 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. 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 < 0.01), more decayed (0.42, p < 0.01) and missing teeth (0.85, p < 0.01), but not filled teeth (-0.11, p = 0.71), than capital city based people. In the second step analysis, non-capital city people still had a greater DMFT (1.01, p < 0.01), more decayed (0.27, p = 0.03) and missing teeth (0.74, p < 0.01), but not filled teeth (0.00, p = 0.99) than capital city based people. Access to dental care was not the only reason why people outside capital cities have poorer oral health than people living in capital cities.
Understanding the Research–Policy Divide for Oral Health Inequality
Publisher: Longwoods Publishing
Date: 28-11-2014
The effect of lifetime fluoridation exposure on dental caries experience of younger rural adults
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-02-2015
DOI: 10.1111/ADJ.12243
Abstract: The aim of this study was to confirm whether the level of lifetime fluoridation exposure is associated with lower dental caries experience in younger adults (15-46 years). Data of the cohort born between 1960 and 1990 residing outside Australia's capital cities from the 2004-2006 Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health were analysed. Residential history questionnaires were used to determine the percentage of each person's lifetime exposure to fluoridated water (<50%/50+%). Examiners recorded decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT). Socio-demographic variables, periodontal risk factors, and access to dental care were included in multivariable least-squares regression models. In bivariate analysis, the higher level of fluoridation category had significantly lower DMFT (mean 6.01 [SE=0.62]) than the lower level of fluoridation group (9.14 [SE=0.73] p<0.01) and lower numbers of filled teeth (4.08 [SE=0.43], 7.06 [SE=0.62], p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, the higher number of full-time equivalent dentists per 100,000 people was associated with a lower mean number of missing teeth (regression coefficient estimate=-1.75, p=0.03), and the higher level of water fluoridation with a lower mean DMFT (-2.45, p<0.01) and mean number of filled teeth (-2.52, p<0.01). The higher level of lifetime fluoridation exposure was associated with substantially lower caries experience in younger rural adults, largely due to a lower number of filled teeth.
The influence of dental attendance on change in oral health–related quality of life
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-09-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1600-0528.2011.00634.X
Abstract: Few longitudinal studies have investigated the association between dental attendance and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). These studies were limited to older adults, or to study participants with an oral disadvantage and did not assess if dental attendance had a different effect on OHRQoL for different people. This project was designed to test whether routine dental attendance improved the OHRQoL of survey participants and whether any patient factors influenced the effect of dental attendance on change in OHRQoL. Collection instruments of a service use log book and a 12 month follow-up mail self-complete questionnaire were added to the Tasmanian component of the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004/06. The dependent variable was change in OHIP-14 severity and the independent variable was dental attendance. Many putative confounders/effect modifiers were analysed in bivariate, stratified and three-model multivariate analyses. These included indicators of treatment need, sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, pattern of dental attendance and access to dental care. None of the putative confounders were associated with both dental attendance and the change in mean OHIP-14 severity. The only statistically significant interaction for change in OHIP-14 severity was observed for dental attendance by residential location (P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, there was a statistically significant association of dental attendance with change in mean OHIP-14 severity. It also showed that the difference in association of attendance between Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, and other places was statistically significant based on the interaction between residential location and attendance (P < 0.05). The effect of dental attendance on OHRQoL was influenced by a patient's residential location.
Will improving access to dental care improve oral health-related quality of life?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-05-2013
DOI: 10.1111/ADJ.12060
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if Australian Defence Force (ADF) members had better oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) than the general Australian population and whether the difference was due to better access to dental care. The OHRQoL, as measured by OHIP-14 summary indicators, of participants from the Defence Deployed Solomon Islands (SI) Health Study and the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06 (NSAOH) were compared. The SI s le was age/gender status-adjusted to match that of the NSAOH s le which was age/gender/regional location weighted to that of the Australian population. NSAOH respondents with good access to dental care had lower OHIP-14 summary measures [frequency of impacts 8.5% (95% CI = 5.4, 11.6), extent mean = 0.16 (0.11, 0.22), severity mean = 5.0 (4.4, 5.6)] than the total NSAOH s le [frequency 18.6 (16.6, 20.7) extent 0.52 (0.44, 0.59) severity 7.6 (7.1, 8.1)]. The NSAOH respondents with both good access to dental care and self-reported good general health did not have as low OHIP-14 summary scores as in the SI s le [frequency 2.6 (1.2, 5.4), extent 0.05 (0.01, 0.10) severity 2.6 (1.9, 3.4)]. ADF members had better OHRQoL than the general Australian population, even those with good access to dental care and self-reported good general health.
Incorporating oral health care education in undergraduate nursing curricula - a systematic review
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-07-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12912-020-00454-6
Abstract: The recognised relationship between oral health and general health, the rapidly increasing older population worldwide, and changes in the type of oral health care older people require have raised concerns for policymakers and health professionals. Nurses play a leading role in holistic and interprofessional care that supports health and ageing. It is essential to understand their preparation for providing oral health care. Objective: To synthesise the evidence on nursing students’ attitudes towards, and knowledge of, oral healthcare, with a view to determining whether oral health education should be incorporated in nursing education. Data sources : Three electronic databases - PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. Study eligibility criteria, participants and interventions: Original studies addressing the research objective, written in English, published between 2008 and 2019, including students and educators in undergraduate nursing programs as participants, and conducted in Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Data extracted from identified studies were thematically analysed, and quality assessment was done using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. From a pool of 567 articles, 11 met the eligibility criteria. Findings documented five important themes: 1.) nursing students’ limited oral health knowledge 2.) their varying attitudes towards providing oral health care 3.) the need for further oral health education in nursing curricula 4.) available learning resources to promote oral health and 5.) the value of an interprofessional education approach to promote oral health care in nursing programs. Limitations: The identified studies recruited small s les, used self-report questionnaires and were conducted primarily in the United States. The adoption of an interprofessional education approach with a focus on providing effective oral health care, particularly for older people, needs to be integrated into regular nursing education, and practice. This may increase the interest and skills of nursing students in providing oral health care. However, more rigorous studies are required to confirm this. Nursing graduates skilled in providing oral health care and interprofessional practice have the potential to improve the oral and general health of older people.
Regional use of the Australian Chronic Disease Dental Scheme
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.1111/AJR.12121
Abstract: To determine whether a different number and type of services were provided in Australian regional areas under the Australian Government-funded Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS). Retrospective analysis of administrative payments data. Australia. Patients receiving dental services under the Medicare CDDS. The CDDS. Number and type of services. CDDS service categories Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) regions were collected by the Australian Department of Human Services between 2008 and 2013 and compared by Australian Bureau of Statistics ASGS estimated resident regional 2011 population, and by employed number of dentists, dental specialists and dental prosthetists from the 2011 National Health Workforce Dataset. Number of services provided was greatest in major cities (79.0%), followed by inner regional (15.4%), outer regional (5.2%) and remote/very remote Australia (0.4%). Number of services per head of population decreased from 1.088 in major cities to 0.16 in remote/very remote areas. Number of services provided per dental practitioner showed minimal variation between major city (1672), inner (1777) and outer regional (1627) areas, but was lower in remote/very remote areas (641). Crown and bridge, periodontic, endodontic and removable prostheses per dental practitioner were most frequently supplied in the major cities, but restorative care and oral surgery were more frequently supplied in inner and outer regional areas. The number of CDDS services provided declined with regional remoteness. There was a marked difference in the utilisation of the scheme between major cities and remote/very remote areas in both number and type of service levels.
AUSTRALIAN DENTAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION SPECIAL RESEARCH SUPPLEMENT Supplement to Australian Dental Journal (Volume 54, Number 4, December 2009)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-11-2009
Non‐surgical periodontal therapy effectively improves patient‐reported outcomes: A systematic review
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-07-2020
DOI: 10.1111/IDH.12450
“Sorry, I'm not a dentist”: perspectives of rural GPs on oral health in the bush
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.5694/MJA15.00740
Abstract: To examine the provision of oral health and oral health service in rural areas from the perspective of general practitioners working in communities without resident dentists. A qualitative approach using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 30 GPs from rural Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, conducted between October 2013 and October 2014. Four major themes emerged from the interviews: rural oral health, managing oral health presentations, barriers to patients seeing a dentist, and improving oral health. Rural GPs saw patients with a range of oral health problems, including toothache, abscesses and trauma, and observed poor oral health in their communities. Some acknowledged that they were not confident when dealing with oral health problems they typically provided short-term pain relief, prescriptions for antibiotics, and advised patients to see a dentist. Participants noted that rural patients may not see a dentist when advised to do so because symptoms had abated, oral health was regarded as a low priority, or the costs of travelling to and seeing a dentist discouraged them. The interviewees recommended building the capacity of GPs to better care for patients with oral health problems, establishing more effective communication and referral pathways between GPs and dentists, focusing on preventive dental care, and delivering dental services in more flexible and consistent ways that better meet the needs of the communities. Rural oral health could be improved by several approaches, including additional training for GPs in oral health care, primary prevention activities in communities, and improving the access to dental services.
Related Organisations
Deakin University - Geelong Campus At Waurn Ponds
Location: Australia
Australasian College Of Health Service Management
Location: Australia
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Leonard Crocombe.