Australia's Health 2006

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published its annual omnibus report Australia's Health 2006 (note large file of 7.14 Mb), which contains a relatively short section on dental health (pp. 352-353), mainly based on the National Dental Interview Telephone Survey of 2002.

The report notes that "Our ranking among OECD countries has improved markedly for mortality rates from coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and transport accidents. Our smoking rates have continued to fall, with the ranking improving from middle third to ‘best’ third. The ranking for lower alcohol consumption has also improved a little. The dental health of our 12 year olds is at the top of the ‘best’ third, along with mortality from accidental falls. And various measures of life expectancy and mortality place Australia among the best in the world" (p.2). (emphasis added)

Members with an interest in dental epidemiology and economics will find the statistical tables which appear on pages 423-424, 428, 430, 435-437, 439, 440, and 447 worth a look. Many of these tables contain more recent data, for example from 2003/04 hospital and health expenditure and insurance statistics. Some key figures of interest include the following:

• In 2003/04, dental services accounted for 6.2% of health expenditure with $4.7 billion spent in a total of $75.8 billion recurrent expenditure
• State and federal Governments contributed $723 million (15.4%), Health Insurance Funds contributed $708 million (15.08%), individuals paid $3,251 (69.26%) and other sources such as accident compensation bodies paid $12 million (0.26%) for dental services
• In 2003/04, of the estimated $16.2 billion out of pocket expenditure on health care goods and services, 20.1% was spent on dental services
• In 2003 there were 12,292 registered dental workers comprising 9,678 dental practitioners, 1,242 dental therapists, 577 dental hygienists and 795 dental prosthetists