Risk indicators of dental caries among refugee patients attending a public dental service in Victoria

Little is known about the relationship between dental caries prevalence and the social risk factors of asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.

An oral health interview and a clinical oral examination were carried out on 201 asylum seekers and refugees patients, aged 18-68, attending Monash Health Dental Services, Melbourne, Victoria.

Data illustrated that 82% of participants had at least one tooth with untreated decay. Tooth level analysis revealed that white spot lesions were most prevalent in age groups 18-29 and 30-39, with respective mean values of 4.45 ± 4.95 and 3.49 ± 4.74. Binary logistic regression models identified multiple social factors as a barrier to receiving dental care. These included, but were not limited to; medication intake, consumption of soft drinks and long waiting lists. These social factors in addition to oral health factors, such as white spot and hypomineralization lesions, were significant predisposing factors to the presence of cavitated carious lesions.

Multiple social and oral health risk factors were identified and significantly associated with dental caries among refugee and asylum seeker patients. Addressing these underlying risks is an integral component to reducing the prevalence of dental caries among this population group and improving their overall general and oral health.