title: Trends in caries experience and associated contextual factors among indigenous children.
abstract: To assess dental caries trends in indigenous children in South Australia, 2001-2010; and contribution by area-level socioeconomic status (SES), remoteness and water fluoridation status.
  
  
  
  This study is a part of the Child Dental Health Survey (CDHS) is an ongoing national surveillance survey in Australia including children enrolled in the School Dental Services (SDS). Postcode-level adjusted mean deciduous and permanent caries experience was estimated at each year. Time trend of dental caries experience was estimated using mixed effect models. Area-level socioeconomic status, remoteness, water fluoridation status were independent variables in the models.
  
  
  
  There was a significant upward trend of dental caries experience over the 10 years. Dental caries experience of indigenous children living in low SES areas had nearly one more deciduous tooth and a half permanent tooth with caries than indigenous children living in higher SES areas. The remote postcodes showed higher levels of decay in deciduous dentition (+1.25 teeth) compared with others regions.
  
  
  
  The dental caries trend increased in South Australian indigenous children over the study period, and was associated with area-level SES and remoteness.
  
  
  
  The increasing trend in dental caries in indigenous children is important evidence to inform policies to improve oral health.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. diep.ha@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Diep Hong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Ratilal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lalloo
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Loc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giang Do
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
keywords: Australia; area-level socioeconomic status; caries trend; child dental health; indigenous status