Variation in dental service provision among adult migrant public-funded patients

ObjectiveTo examine type of care, oral health status and service patterns by country of birth and language.MethodsA random sample of public-funded patients (n = 6, 109) was surveyed in 1995-96.ResultsEmergency care was highest among overseas-born patients who spoke a non-English language at home; edentulism was highest among Australian-born/English only patients; while a higher percentage of Australian-born persons were in the periodontal health category (chi 2; p ConclusionsService patterns may reflect behavioural and cultural factors of patients or providers operating independently of socio-demographic and oral health status variables.ImplicationsVariation and potential inequality in service patterns related to cultural factors existed within a group of disadvantaged patients