Provision of public dental services in urban, rural and remote locations.
Geographic remoteness is a barrier in the receipt of comprehensive dental care, and contributes to inequalities in oral health among adults in Australia. The aim of this study was to determine whether dental care provided through the public sector varied between geographic locations. Data were collected from a cross-sectional sample of 10,230 visits made by dentate patients aged 18 years or more. On the basis of residential postcode, patients were categorised into urban, rural or remote locations. Public dental care provided to adults in non-urban locations was more likely to include restorative, oral surgery and prosthodontic services, but less likely to include preventive services.
AIHW Dental Statistics and Research Unit, University of Adelaide, Australia.
D S
DS
Brennan
A J
AJ
Spencer
G D
GD
Slade
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011476:Prosthodontics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011636:Public Health Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population