Poor oral health found among preschool children in rural and remote Western Australia

An article published in the journal Rural and Remote Health has shown findings of poor oral health among preschoolers in rural and remote Western Australia (WA).

The study, Oral health of preschool children in rural and remote Western Australia, which was published by researchers from the Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health, at the University of Western Australia, involved 253 children in Carnarvon, Wiluna, Roebourne, Kalgoorlie and Esperance.

The study notes tooth decay to be far higher among Indigenous children than non-Indigenous children. Among its key findings in Indigenous children aged 2-4 years were:

• 69% had one or more decayed teeth (compared to 40% in non-Indigenous children)
• 28% had experienced toothache (compared to 15% in non-Indigenous children)
• 34% had severe early childhood caries (s-ECC) (compared to 19% in non-Indigenous children).

The study also highlights a low percentage of children across WA visiting a dentist before the age of 5 years, when they gain access to WA's publically funded School dental service program.

Source: ScienceNetwork Western Australia

Contacts

Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health (CRROH)
Anatomy and Human Biology Building
University of Western Australia
Ph: (08) 9346 7322
Email: crroh@uwa.edu.au

Links

• View article: Oral health of pre-school children in rural and remote Western Australia
• View news item: Young tooth trouble in remote WA