Oral health gap between those who regularly visit a dentist and those who don't

A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare confirms big differences in the oral health of Australian adults depending on whether they visit the dentist regularly or not. The report, Dental attendance patterns and oral health status, uses findings from the 2004-2006 National Survey of Adult Oral Health to show that adults with an unfavourable pattern of dental attendance have significantly poorer oral health than those with a favourable attendance pattern. The 'favourable' group includes about 40% of Australian adults who have a usual dental care provider whom they visit at least once a year for a check-up. The 'unfavourable' group, which includes nearly 30% of Australian adults, visit varying dentists infrequently and usually for a dental problem. The remaining 'intermediate' group (30%) have a mixed pattern of dental attendance.