title: Oral health and risk factors for dental disease of Australian young people in custody.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence and risk factors for markers of poor oral health in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people in custody in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  All incarcerated youth, aged 13-21 years, in New South Wales Juvenile Custodial Centres between August and October 2009 were invited to participate and undertake a dental exam. The main outcome measures were an assessment of moderate/abundant plaque, periodontal disease, dental caries experience, mean decayed and/or filled and/or missing teeth (DMFT) index and untreated decay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred ninety-four participants (91% male, 46% Aboriginal) underwent a dental exam. Markers of poor oral health were common - 49.4% with moderate/abundant plaque, 34.4% with periodontal disease, mean DMFT 3.56 and 54% having untreated decay. Risk factors independently associated with poor oral health were geographical remoteness and non-fluoridation of the water supply of the usual residence, a shorter incarceration time and dental treatment outside of custody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young people entering custody have poor oral health, with those from geographically remote areas without water fluoridation at highest risk. The incarceration period is an opportunity for oral health improvements in these young people through access to dental treatment services. Better triaging systems are needed to identify those of greatest priority, and prevention services are needed.
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Health, Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haysom
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research into Criminal Justice, Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Devon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Indig
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research, Evidence Management and Surveillance, Sydney and South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research into Criminal Justice, Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory and Primary Health Care, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van den Dolder
keywords: Aboriginal; caries; incarcerated; oral health; young people