Oral health is a significant concern in Australia, as almost one-third of the population has been delaying dental care. In 2022-23 alone, timely treatment for dental conditions could have prevented over 87,000 hospitalisations. At worst, oral health deteriorates regardless of age.
Despite advances in dental care, oral health issues remain prevalent in the country. Read on to explore trends, disease prevalence, and treatment data to understand Australia’s dental health landscape.
General Oral Health in Australia
Good oral condition reflects optimal well-being. Neglecting this affects abilities like eating, speaking, and socialising. Oral diseases–mainly tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss–account for 4.5% of the country’s non-fatal burden diseases in 2022.
While oral health deteriorates with age, this still varies from person to person. Simply put, it primarily depends on but is not limited to your lifestyle, diet, hygiene, and family history. Let’s look closer at Australians’ oral health statistics at different ages.
Australian Adult’s Oral Health
A national survey revealed that adults aged 15 and over had roughly 11.2 decayed, missing, or filled teeth in 2017-18. This figure is lower for those who frequent dental checkups (10.1) and higher for adults who only visit the dentist once dental problems arise (13.2).
Across states and territories, around 1 in 3 adults (32%) have at least one tooth with untreated dental decay. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 adults aged 18 and over have had gum disease in 2021. When gum disease remains untreated, it’s likely to develop into gingivitis, which can cause oral inflammation and infection.
Children’s Oral Health Trends
How healthy are Australian children’s oral condition? Around 4 in 10 (42%) children aged 5-10 experienced dental caries, and 1 in 4 (24%) had untreated decay in 2012-14. The good news is half of them had their first dental visit before the age of 5.
However, 1 in 9 children aged 5-14 had never visited a dental provider. This implies why a few young adults develop severe oral health complications after years of unchecked or untreated dental conditions.
Oral Health in Seniors
Oral health often declines as people age. As such, older people may require more robust dental services than younger people need. For example, 2 in 3 adults aged 65 and over required a filling compared to children and young adults in 2017-18.
Australian seniors also received more clinical dental services than any other age group in 2020-22. However, accessing dental care treatment is challenging for the age group, often due to their frail condition, disabilities, or complex medical needs.
Prevalence of Dental Diseases in Australia
Poor oral health affects millions of children and adults across Australia. While many factors contribute to this, access and availability to dental care remain challenging for patients. Let’s examine the country’s prevalent dental diseases below.
Tooth Decay Statistics
Gradual plaque buildup due to inadequate oral hygiene can result in dental decay. So, how common is tooth decay across Australia? Here’s a detailed breakdown of tooth decay (including missing or filled) across various age groups in the country:
- 5-10 years old: 1.5 decayed, missing, or filled teeth
- 6-14 years old: 0.5 decayed, missing, or filled teeth
- 15-34 years old: 4.1 decayed, missing, or filled teeth
- 35-54 years old: 10.3 decayed, missing, or filled teeth
- 55-74 years old: 19.4 decayed, missing, or filled teeth
- 75 years and over: 24.4 decayed, missing, or filled teeth
These figures strongly suggest that dental decay increases with age. However, the prevalence of untreated dental decay reflects the roadblocks to adequate dental care access for treatment.
Gum Disease and Periodontitis
Plaque buildup on teeth and the gum line is often the cause of gum disease, especially in its early stage (gingivitis). Surveys show that around 1 in 5 children (22%) and 3 in 10 (29%) adults had gingivitis Australia-wide.
If gingivitis remains untreated, it develops into a severe gum disease known as periodontitis. Such advanced gum infection can damage soft tissue and bone in the oral region, leading to tooth loss. This condition affected 30.1% of Australian adults aged 15 years and over in 2017-18.
Oral Cancer Statistics
Advanced gum disease increases the risk of cancer, although the exact mechanism is still uncertain. The good news is that dental examination is crucial in detecting an earlier stage of oral cancer, which increases survival alongside effective treatments. In Australia, oral cancer affects 6.5 per 100,000 people and had a relative five-year survival rate of 76.4% in 2014-2018.
Dental Visits and Treatment Data
A dental visit is key to rehabilitating teeth and gums and maintaining optimal oral health. That said, Australians have varied dental visiting patterns. Let’s understand how frequently Aussies visit dental clinics and what treatment services they opt for.
Frequency of Dental Visits in Australia
In Australia, about 58% of adults aged 15 years and over visited a dental professional at least once in 2017-18. Many of these clinic goers typically visit for checkups with dental insurance and reside in capital cities.
That data also implies that almost half of Australian adults do not have adequate access to dental services. On the other hand, around 9 in 10 children aged 5-14 years visited a dental provider for checkups in 2012-14. That’s likely to increase thanks to the free dental check-ups for children through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).
Common Dental Procedure Performed
What procedures do Australians commonly get at dental clinics? Around 198,000 dental procedures performed in hospitals were oral surgeries in 2022-23. These include tooth extractions, tooth-coloured restorations, and other preventative dental services.
Cosmetic Dentistry Trends
While Australia’s public dental care focuses on general dental treatment, private clinics provide cosmetic dental services. Cosmetic dentistry is rising as Aussies opt for dental treatments to achieve their desired look. Its popular options include teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants, and orthodontics, which cater to aesthetic and restorative needs.
Dental Costs and Access to Care in Australia
Dental costs remain a roadblock for most Australians in maintaining exceptional oral health. The latest data shows that 31.6% of Australian adults delayed or avoided dental care due to cost in 2021. Most patients reported difficulty paying a $200 dental bill, enough only to cover basic preventative care.
Limited public dental treatment is another barrier to oral care, especially in rural and remote regions. That’s why most Aussies seek private dental services, which offer a broader range of treatments and more flexible scheduling. For instance, about 85% of adult patients visited a private dental practice in 2021.
Dental insurance is key to lowering the financial burden of the hefty cost of dental services, especially in private settings. However, more Aussies in major cities (56%) had private dental insurance than those living elsewhere in 2017-18. This leaves the rest who may otherwise struggle to afford necessary treatments.
Oral Health Behaviours and Hygiene Practices
Even though dental conditions decline with age, good hygiene practices can ensure your oral condition lasts with minimal issues. Let’s see what most Australians do to maintain pristine oral health and the grim consequences of poor dental habits.
Toothbrushing and Flossing Habits
Brushing your teeth twice daily can prevent plaque buildup and tooth decay. So, does everyone follow this daily routine? Across Australia, around two-thirds of children (69%) aged 5-14 years did it in 2012-14.
Meanwhile, almost all (97%) adults ages 15 and above brush their teeth only once daily in 2017-18. About two-thirds of Australians rarely or never use floss to clean their teeth. Without increased awareness and public education, these poor oral hygiene practices can result in more patients with dental problems.
Sugar Consumption and Its Impact on Oral Health
The WHO reported that free sugar is a dietary factor in developing dental caries. Simply put, oral bacteria metabolise accumulated sugar on the teeth, producing acid that can weaken enamel and result in cavities. Adequate fluoride levels in toothpaste can limit the decay process.
Smoking and Oral Health
Heavy tobacco smoking increases the risk of oral diseases. The harmful chemicals in tobacco stain the teeth and promote tartar buildup, which can result in gum diseases. Once gum disease progresses, it may cause bad breath, tooth loss, and life-threatening conditions like oral cancer.
Impact of Poor Oral Health on General Health
Who would’ve thought that poor dental hygiene complicates other health issues? Emerging research has uncovered a strong connection between gum disease and cardiovascular diseases. While gum inflammation is not concerning initially, its advanced stages allow harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream that can reach the arteries and heart.
That explains why patients with severe gum disease are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. On the other hand, diabetic patients may experience slower wound healing due to gum and oral diseases.
The CDC even pointed out that high blood sugar levels can weaken the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight oral gum infections. Beyond these health issues, dental disease can impair patients’ appearance and speech, eroding their self-esteem. In Australia, 1 in 3 adults reported feeling uncomfortable about their dental appearance.
How Aesthetic Dental Clinic Can Help
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- Preventive Care: We provide routine checkups and cleanings to help you maintain optimal oral health. Our highly skilled dental team offers personalised oral hygiene instructions and thorough oral examinations to detect or treat dental issues early.
- Restorative Dentistry: We use superior material quality in fillings and crowns to restore damaged pearly whites. We use advanced techniques and tools in root canal therapy and implants for lasting, natural-looking dental solutions.
- Cosmetic Dentistry: We offer a full spectrum of cosmetic solutions such as teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and orthodontics, ensuring a complete transformation for a perfect, dazzling smile!
Unlock your ideal pearly whites free from dental issues with our unmatched care and service. Contact us at 02 4655 4438 or book an appointment to get your best-looking, radiant smile!
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is tooth decay in Australia?
Tooth decay remains a prevalent dental issue among Australians. Australian children aged 5-14 had an average of 0.5 to 1.5 decayed teeth (including missing or filled teeth in 2012-14). On the other hand, adults aged 15 and over had 11.5 decayed teeth in 2017-18.
What are the most common dental issues in Australia?
Aside from tooth decay, Australians typically encounter dental cavities and gum disease (gingivitis) that often lead to tooth loss. Around 1 in 5 (22%) of children had gingivitis in 2012-14, while 3 in 10 (29%) adults encountered similar dental issues in 2017-18.
How often should Australians visit the dentist?
Seeking a dental provider once or more every year is a favourable dental visit pattern for Australians. However, this could be more frequent for infants during the first few teeth eruptions or older people with risk factors for developing oral health issues.
How much does dental care cost in Australia?
Dental care costs vary depending on the required treatment, location, clinic, and dentist’s skills. For example, standard checkups and cleanings can cost over $200-$300. Meanwhile, the Australian Dental Report reports that veneers typically cost around $300-$1,300 per tooth and dental implants about $2,000-$8,000 per tooth.
What can I do to improve my oral health?
Routine brushing and flossing are the easiest options to maintain oral health. Limiting sugary foods, alcohol drinking, and tobacco smoking is also crucial to ensuring exceptional dental conditions. While teeth and gums gradually deteriorate for all ages, frequent dental visits provide the highest assurance to prevent oral health problems.
