Indigenous Australian dental health: A brief review of caries experience

The indigenous community in Australia is an at risk population for oral dis eases such as dental caries. The majority of communities are isolated and d ental services in these areas are limited. Oral hygiene standards are poor acid this combined with a diet rich in refined carbohydrates has led to hig h incidences of dental caries. In addition, diabetes, which is related to o besity (and a diet high in sugar and fat) has been linked to increases in o ral disease. Caries prevalence was found to be low in areas where fluoridat ion levels in the water were high. The fact that the fluoride supplementati on appears to improve oral health to a significant degree suggests that imp lementation of fluoride treatment programmes for school children and, where viable, fluoridation of water sources would be appropriate. In addition, d ental education programmes should receive high priority. As with the rest o f the community, these preventive measures will result in less need for eme rgency dental treatment in the future, better oral health for the community and reduced financial burden on the State. It is under these circumstances that oral health planners and providers must, in consultation with the rel evant community representatives, develop appropriate mechanisms to address the needs of this group. The development of strategies that integrate with the plethora of general health strategies currently being implemented is ju st one means of achieving improved oral health outcomes for indigenous Aust ralians.