title: Trends in dental service provision in Australia: 1983-1984 to 2009-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate time trends in dental service provision.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of Australian dentists was surveyed by mailed questionnaires in 1983-1984, 1993-1994, 2003-2004, and 2009-2010 (response rates 67-76%). The service rate per visit was collected from a log of services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of service provision per visit [rate ratio (RR)] increased from 1983-1984 to 2009-2010 for the service areas of diagnostic (RR=1.8; 1.6-1.9), preventive (RR=1.9; 1.6-2.1), endodontic (RR=2.1; 1.7-2.6), and crown and bridge (RR=2.9; 2.3-3.8), whereas prosthodontic services decreased (RR=0.7; 0.6-0.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The profile of services provided by dentists changed over the study period to include less emphasis on replacement of teeth and more on diagnosis, prevention, and retention of natural dentitions.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Madhan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
authors.forename: A John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003442:Crowns / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003829:Denture, Partial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012737:Sex Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Private general practice; dental service provision; time trends