Socioeconomic gradients in toothache experience among Australian adults: A time trend analysis from 1994 to 2013

To identify time trend pattern in toothache and to estimate whether toothache prevalence differs by socioeconomic position and residential location over time.

Data from nine successive National Dental Telephone Interview Surveys (NDTIS) from 1994 (n = 6907) to 2013 (n = 6778) performed in Australia among individuals aged 15 years or over were used. The dependent variable was toothache reported very often, often or sometimes during the previous 12 months. Independent variables were age group, household income (tertiles), insurance/cardholder status and geographical remoteness. Prais-Winsten analyses were performed, and the average annual percentage change (AAPC) for toothache prevalence was estimated.

Toothache affected slightly more than 10% of the overall population in 1994 (11.6%) and 1995 (11.4%), reaching approximately one-sixth (16.2%) of individuals in 2013. Overall, there was a significant increase in toothache prevalence over time (AAPC = 2.0% [95% CI 0.7;1.34]) and in those aged 25-44 (AAPC 2.1% [95% CI 0.6;3.6]) and 45-64 (AAPC 3.4% [95% CI 1.5;5.3]) years and markedly among those in the lowest income group (AAPC 3.4% [95% CI 0.1;6.7]). All geographic locations except for remote/very remote areas had upward toothache prevalence over time. Insured status was not associated with increased toothache prevalence during the investigated period.

Toothache prevalence increased from 1994 to 2013 in Australian adults particularly among the lowest socioeconomic group.