title: Potentially preventable hospital separations related to oral health: a 10-year analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to assess the rates of hospitalizations for potentially preventable dental conditions over a 10-year period in Western Australia; to analyse trends over 10 years in rate changes of hopitalizations; and to analyse the mix of preventable dental conditions by age group and Aboriginal status.
  
  
  METHODS
  The principal diagnosis, as classified by the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10AM), was used to select hospitalization data for all patients who were discharged from hospital in Western Australia for the financial years 1999-2000 to 2008-2009, for a potentially preventable oral health condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a 10-year period more than 65 000 people were hospitalized. Population rates of hospitalization increased significantly over the period for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population groups. Admission rates were higher for Aboriginal people. Children under 14 were more likely to be admitted; the most common condition that required hospitalization was dental caries, and the highest rates of hospitalization were for those from the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These hospitalizations remain a considerable and increasing financial burden on health budgets. An increase in efforts is necessary to curb escalating government health expenditure by reducing avoidable and preventable oral health related hospitalizations.
authors.affiliation: International Research Collaborative - Oral Health and Equity, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4883-6793
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: International Research Collaborative - Oral Health and Equity, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tennant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Australia; dental; hospitalizations; oral health; preventable