Improved access to dental care for indigenous children in Australia
A report has revealed that access to oral health services is improving in the Northern Territory area of Australia.
New initiatives were introduced to try and improve access to dentists and figures show that 60 percent of the children who required further treatment after an initial check-up have now seen a dental health professional. New measures were announced as part of the Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory National Partnership Agreement.
Despite the positive news about improved access to dental services, the report also confirms that oral health problems are prevalent amongst children in the Northern Territory. The report, entitled, ‘Dental Health of Indigenous Children in the Northern Territory’, is due to be released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare today.
The report outlines current dental services, details the oral health of children in the area and also provides information about follow-up care for children who have been told that they need treatment.
Dr Indrani Pieris-Caldwell, of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, said that the mobility of indigenous children presented challenges for follow-up care but figures showed that the majority of children who required further treatment had seen a dental health professional. The report also confirms that most children had benefitted from diagnostic services as well as treatment.
The report shows that there has been an improvement in dental services in the area; however, figures also show that dental health is still very poor amongst indigenous children in comparison to other children, with 83 percent of indigenous children suffering from decayed, missing or filled teeth.
Join this Discussion