Policy challenges in South Australia: improving oral health and dental care

Both the number and heterogeneity of those who have unfavourable dental visiting patterns and poor oral health justify claims that this is a substantial health problem argues John Spencer.The latest survey of oral health and dental care has described two worlds in Australian dentistry (Slade et al, 2007). The first constitutes approximately half of all adults who enjoy a favourable pattern of dental visiting and better oral health. The second constitutes the other half who have an unfavourable pattern of dental visiting and poorer oral health. A very similar situation has been described in the South Australian population (Ellershaw et al, 2005). Both the number and heterogeneity of those who have unfavourable dental visiting patterns and poor oral health justify claims that this is a substantial health problem. &nbsp