Study on the oral health of children who visit dentists

Less than 12% of Australian children regularly experienced toothache or the need to avoid eating certain foods because of problems with their teeth or mouth, according to a new study.
The report, Oral health impacts among children by dental visiting treatment needs, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, provides information on the oral health impacts experienced by children during the period 2004–06.
It investigates differences in parent-reported toothache, eating difficulties and poor oral health perception between children with different dental visiting patterns and treatment needs. The main findings are:

• More than 90% of parents considered their child’s oral health to be good, very good or excellent
• Oral health impacts varied by children’s age, sex and state of residence.
• Children with more oral health impacts were more likely to visit the dentist regularly.
• Reduced dental visiting was associated with poorer oral health.
• Greater treatment need was strongly associated with more oral health impacts.