FED: Most of Australian children regularly see dentist

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
FED: Most of Australian children regularly see dentist

Eds: Embargoed to 0001 AEST, Wednesday, August 12



SYDNEY, Aug 12 AAP - They may not enjoy it but Australian children are regulars at
the dentist, a study shows.

About 80 per cent of Australian children report having seen a dentist in the past 12
months, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report.

The statistic has remained stable over time, the AIHW says, after reviewing five separate
studies spanning the decade to 2005.

"From 1994 to 2005, approximately 80 per cent of children aged five to 11 years visited
a dentist within the previous 12 months," the report, released Wednesday, states.

The result was roughly the same for those in the 12- to 17-year age bracket.

Professor John Spencer, of the AIHW's Dental Statistics and Research Unit, says children
who made regular dental visits for a check-up benefited from early detection of oral disease.

The cost of a dental visit was highlighted as a barrier to seeing a dentist for only
a "low percentage of families", he also said.

"Cost is not a substantial barrier to children visiting a dentist because of free or
heavily subsidised School dental services in most states and territories," Prof Spencer
said.

AAP dr/cdh

KEYWORD: DENTAL (EMBARGOED)

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