Dental Service Utilisation In Young Adults: A Function Of Need, Health Behaviours Or Socio-demographic Variables?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$58,190.00
Summary
Over the past 20 years there have been significant gains made in the oral health of children, with the majority of 12 year olds in Australia in 1996 having no dental decay. There are however some indications that young adulthood may have become a period of increased risk of dental disease, as young adults leave home, become increasingly independent, have financial pressures whilst establishing themselves and change their diet and other habits. In 1998-99 a baseline study was conducted on a sampl ....Over the past 20 years there have been significant gains made in the oral health of children, with the majority of 12 year olds in Australia in 1996 having no dental decay. There are however some indications that young adulthood may have become a period of increased risk of dental disease, as young adults leave home, become increasingly independent, have financial pressures whilst establishing themselves and change their diet and other habits. In 1998-99 a baseline study was conducted on a sample of Adelaide young adults 20-24 years using telephone interviews and oral examinations. Data was obtained on dental visiting patterns, socio-economic status, living arrangements, and health behaviours such as smoking and playing sport, as well as oral health. This study seeks to follow-up the sample of 1265 young adults who were interviewed in 1998-99 to ascertain any changes in oral health and utilisation of dental services. Data on socio-economic status, living arrangements and health behaviours will also be collected to determine whether any changes in those factors may explain changes in visiting behaviour and oral health. In addition participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire on satisfaction with dental care. Permission will be sought to gain access to participants School Dental Service records to determine whether any relationship exists between childhood visiting patterns and those in adulthood. This study will enable identification of the factors which affect oral health and dental utilisation in young adults to assist in the development of oral health promotion strategies to encourage timely, effective and appropriate dental service utilisation and preventive behaviours. To improve the oral health of Australians the maintenance of gains made in childhood is essential.Read moreRead less
The National Survey of Adult Oral Health will interview and dentally examine 7,500 people aged 15 or more across all States and Territories of Australia. It will provide a national snap-shot of the nation's oral health, including levels of tooth loss, dental decay and gum disease. The survey, to be conducted in 2004-04, will be directed by researchers at the Australian Research Center for Population Oral Health at The University of Adelaide. It will be conducted in collaboration with the Commonw ....The National Survey of Adult Oral Health will interview and dentally examine 7,500 people aged 15 or more across all States and Territories of Australia. It will provide a national snap-shot of the nation's oral health, including levels of tooth loss, dental decay and gum disease. The survey, to be conducted in 2004-04, will be directed by researchers at the Australian Research Center for Population Oral Health at The University of Adelaide. It will be conducted in collaboration with the Commonwealth and State-Territory health departments. Occurring 17 years after the first National Oral Health Survey of Australia, this new survey will monitor changes in oral health among all Australians. The survey will identify groups at particular disadvantage in terms of oral diseases, and it will search for lifestyle and community-level hazards that increase the risk of oral disorders. The study will have a compare patterns of dental health among people born before and after the fluoride generation of adults born in the 1960s when most of Australia's capital city water supplies became fluoridated. The study has been designed to automatically capture national statistics on general health among the 7,500 study participants over the next decade. The researchers will use that information to study links that have been observed in other countries between gum disease and heart disease. Results from the survey will provide the basis for monitoring progress towards national health targets and provide information to help direct dental health services into the 21st century.Read moreRead less
Tooth Emergence And Oral Streptococci Colonisation: A Longitudinal Study Of Australian Twins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,600.00
Summary
We plan to include over 500 Australian families of twins in this 5-year study and to collect records of tooth emergence, cheek cells for DNA analysis, dental plaque samples for microbiological analysis, as well as other information from questionnaires. Firstly, we want to learn how genetic and non-genetic factors influence the timing and sequence of emergence of primary (baby) teeth. Most children get their baby teeth between the ages of 6 months and 2.5 years, but sometimes they appear earlier, ....We plan to include over 500 Australian families of twins in this 5-year study and to collect records of tooth emergence, cheek cells for DNA analysis, dental plaque samples for microbiological analysis, as well as other information from questionnaires. Firstly, we want to learn how genetic and non-genetic factors influence the timing and sequence of emergence of primary (baby) teeth. Most children get their baby teeth between the ages of 6 months and 2.5 years, but sometimes they appear earlier, even at birth, and some children don't get all their baby teeth until about 4 years. By studying identical twins and non-identical twins we will be able to work out whether genetic factors are most important in determining this variation or whether other factors such as diet or illness also play a significant role. Secondly, we want to find out whether there is a relationship between the timing of emergence of the primary teeth and the growth of bacteria in the mouth that may lead to dental decay. It seems that the most likely source of the bacteria that can cause dental decay is a baby's mother and that children infected before three years of age are more likely to get dental decay subsequently. We will determine when decay-producing bacteria first appear in the mouth and check whether the same types of bacteria are present in twins and their mothers. This information will enable us to sort out whether the process that allows bacteria to become established around the teeth has a strong genetic basis or not. If we can gain a better understanding of how genetic and environmental factors influence dental development, we will be in a better position to manage individuals with altered tooth emergence that can lead to crowded teeth. Furthermore, if we can demonstrate a link between tooth emergence, growth of oral bacteria, and development of dental decay, we should be able to determine the most effective time to introduce preventive measures to control dental disease.Read moreRead less
Prevention And Control Of Caries In Older Adults In Residential Aged Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,840.00
Summary
Tooth decay has become an increasingly significant health-related problem especially among highly dependent elders in nursing homes. There is no established program for the prevention of decay among this disadvantaged population. This study will test the efficacy of various new approaches for preventing decay among these elders. The expected benefits will be that tooth decay, even in highly dependent elders in nursing homes, can be prevented and their oral health will be much improved.
Caries Initiation Across Childhood To Adulthood By Exposure To Water Fluoridation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$198,297.00
Summary
This research program is expected to contribute to filling significant gaps in the understanding of factors determining the oral health of Australian children and young adults. The purpose of the project is to develop a better understanding of the outcome of long-term exposure to fluoridated water among young adults.
Economic Evaluation Of The Costs And Benefits Of Options For Publicly Funded Dental Care Provision In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$219,135.00
Summary
Governments and administrators of public dental services (PDS) currently address resource allocation problems with little guidance from the public. This project will provide evidence of population priorities that can underpin planning for public dental care and provide direction for priorities in PDS A cost-benefit analysis of dental care, to guide future decisions, will be conducted by comparing the community's willingness to pay for dental services and the cost of providing those services.
Natural History And Longterm Impact Of Dental Fluorosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,184.00
Summary
Dental fluorosis is an important aspect of oral health because: perception and concerns about fluorosis influence perspective and success of fluoride programs; and advices on fluoride use are based on a risk-benefit tradeoff. This study is expected to report changes in fluorosis, its longterm impact and evaluate fluorosis and caries trade-off. This will be the first study of the natural history of fluorosis. Findings will have significance for individuals, dental profession and health policy.
Development Of Antimicrobial Peptides Targeting Oral Pathogenic Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$663,350.00
Summary
The bacterial associated oral diseases; periodontitis and caries are major public health problems. The prevalence of these diseases and increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance has meant there is a need to develop new therapies. This project addresses this by modifying a novel class of antibiotics/antiseptics �antimicrobial peptides� to target oral bacteria and testing them using a newly developed screening method. This project will lead to new therapies for periodontitis and caries.