ORAL HEALTH AND GENERAL HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA
The great disconnect
FOREWORD
Dr Rick Olive AM RFD
BACKGROUND
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Dr Chris Handbury
Dr Louise McCuaig
and Recreation
Professor Chris Peck
Lindy Sank
Dr Eduardo Alcaino
Dr Merrilyn Hooley
Julie Barker
Dr Robert Watson
A/Prof Wendell Evans
Christine Morris
Dr Susan Cartwright
Professor Mark Bartold
Jo Purssey
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TOOTH DECAY AND THE LIFE STAGES
INTRODUCTION
stages:
Mothers & babies
Childhood
5-14 years
Young People
15-24 years
Working Age
25-64 years
Ageing
65+
What is tooth
Two RISK
factors
• dental plaque
& sugar
Tooth decay, or dental caries,
results from an imbalance among...
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4 TOOTH DECAY AND THE LIFE STAGES
Critical factors
Two PROTECTIVE
factors
• saliva & fluoride
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2
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> neutralise acid
> supply calcium for remineralisation; and
Risk of tooth decay
can be reduced through
Twice daily
tooth brushing
with fluoride
toothpaste
x2
Control of
dietary sugar
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RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Mothers & babies
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• The in-depth systematic
literature review conducted by
the World Health Organisation
supported the relationship
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between the amount of sugar
intake and the development of
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tooth decay across age groups.
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Children are at risk
of early childhood tooth decay
6 TOOTH DECAY AND THE LIFE STAGES
Childhood
5-14 years
Despite the fact this is
largely preventable,
tooth decay is the most
common chronic disease
of childhood.
Young People
15-24 years Working Age
25-64 years
75%
58%
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More than one in five Australian
adults aged over 65 have no
teeth; most of this tooth loss is
attributed to dental caries and
gum disease.
Ageing
65+
More than 1 in 5
Australian adults
RECOMMENDATION
“
A/Prof Wendell Evans
8 TOOTH DECAY AND THE LIFE STAGES
”
INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
• There is more to gum disease
than just simple plaque
accumulation around teeth ,
such as how an individual’s
immune system reacts to
plaque bacteria and whether
they have any underlying
conditions that might
influence their resistance or
susceptibility to gum disease.
Therefore a full patient
assessment, and not just an
assessment of oral hygiene,
is crucial to successful
management (and prevention)
Speech
Apart from
increasing
the risk of
tooth loss,
periodontitis
can adversely
affect
of gum disease.
Nutrition
Selfesteem
Quality
of Life
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2-3x
The importance of good oral
hygiene and how to prevent
gum disease:
disease than those
RECOMMENDATION
“
Professor Mark Bartold
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”
INTRODUCTION
that good oral habits are
established early
Healthy teeth are an
general health
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RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Despite our growing awareness
and vigilance about health and
appearance
the prevalence and
severity of tooth decay
has been increasing
in Australian children
and adults...
teeth
... since the mid
1990s.
About one in seven
Australians over 15
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• inattention
and
• inattention
Poor oral
health in
attendance and
children is
related to:
Poor oral
health in
adults is
eating
related to:
RECOMMENDATION
“
Dr Merrilyn Hooley
”
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REFERENCES
14 REFERENCES
International Journal Paediatric Dentistry
Oral Health in America
Oral Health in America
Community Dent Oral Peidemiol
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