Social inequality in use of dental services: relief of pain and extractions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess social inequality in use of dental services by examination of visiting for relief of pain and receipt of extractions. Data were collected in the period of 2004-06, from a stratified clustered sample of Australians aged 15+ years, using a computer-aided telephone interview. Analysis was restricted to n=10,099 dentate adults. Visiting for relief of pain varied by age, country of birth, education and income with lower odds (Odds ratio, 95%CI) among 55-74 (0.43, 0.35-0.54) and 75+ year-olds (0.22, 0.15-0.33) compared to the 15-34 year-olds, lower odds among Australian-born persons (0.82,0.69-0.98) compared to those born overseas, higher odds for those with no post-secondary education (1.31, 1.07-1.61) and with TAFE, trade or other qualifications (1.34, 1.09-1.66) compared to university qualified, and for those in the <$20,000 income group (1.61, 1.23-2.12), the $20,000-<$40,000 (1.53, 1.20-1.96) and the $40,000-<$60,000 group (1.33, 1.02-1.72) compared to <$80,000+. Receipt of extractions varied by age, sex, qualifications and income, with lower odds of extraction among persons of 75+ years (0.61,0.40-0.93) compared to the youngest age group, higher odds among males (1.34, 1.13-1.59) compared to females, those with no post-secondary education (1.59, 1.27-1.99) and with TAFE, trade or other qualifications (1.49, 1.21-1.84) compared to university qualified, and for the income groups <$20,000 (3.06, 2.27-4.12), $20,000-<40,000 (2.37, 1.80-3.12) and $40,000-<60,000 (1.94 1.47-2.55) compared to the $80,000+ income group. The results indicate social inequality in provision of dental services and suggest an urgent need for the dental profession and governments to address this inequality.