Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Social Inequalities in Tooth Loss Over Time: Insights From Australian Adults
Xiangqun Ju1, Liana Luzzi1, Sergio Chrisopoulos1
1Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Introduction And Aim:
In contemporary society, social inequality in tooth loss is a significant and often overlooked issue. This study aimed to describe and examine social differentials in tooth loss among Australian adults over time.
Methods:
This analysis used data from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health (NSAOH), which was conducted in Australia in 2 waves: NSAOH-1 (2004-2006) and NSAOH-2 (2017-2018). The study employed a population-based cross-sectional design, with adults aged 15 years and older randomly selected using a 3-stage, stratified sampling method across metropolitan and regional areas in each state and territory. The primary outcomes were self-reported edentulism and non-functional dentition (<21 teeth). Explanatory variables included socioeconomic status, assessed using equivalized household income and grouped into approximate quartiles from lowest to highest, along with sociodemographic factors, CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) status, and oral health-related behaviour. Unadjusted and adjusted absolute prevalence differences (PDs) were calculated to assess income-related inequality. Adjustments were made for age and sex using the average covariate distribution across all income groups.
Results:
Data were available for 14,123 participants in NSAOH-1 and 15,731 participants in NSAOH-2. The prevalence of edentulism declined from 6.4% to 4.0%, and non-functional dentition decreased from 17.1% to 13.8% over time. These reductions were observed across all household income quartiles, with lower prevalence rates for both conditions in NSAOH-2 compared to NSAOH-1. The adjusted model showed that the prevalence decreases were most marked for the lowest household income group, from 15.3 to 6.5 (PD = 8.8, 95% CI: 8.3-9.4) for edentulism and from 35.0 to 21.3 (PD = 13.7, 95% CI: 13.4-14.0) for non-functional dentition.
Conclusion:
Our study indicated social inequalities in both edentulism and non-functional dentition among Australian adults over time. Age, sex, place of residence, irregular dental visits, and lack of dental insurance were important factors associated with tooth loss.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues