Caries and periodontal disease in Indigenous adults in Australia: a case of limited and non-contemporary data
Andrea M. de Silva A B , Jacqueline M. Martin-Kerry C F , Katherine McKee D and Deborah Cole EA Institute for Safety, Compensation & Recovery Research, 222 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
B Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia. Email: andreams@unimelb.edu.au
C Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
D Centre for Applied Oral Health Research, Dental Health Services Victoria, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia. Email: kmckee@deakin.edu.au
E Dental Health Services Victoria, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia. Email: deborah.cole@dhsv.org.au
F Corresponding author. Email: jackie.martin-kerry@york.ac.uk
Australian Health Review 41(4) 469-478 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH15229
Submitted: 9 December 2015 Accepted: 26 June 2016 Published: 29 August 2016
Journal Compilation © AHHA 2017 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Objective The aim of the present study was to identify all evidence about the prevalence and severity of clinically measured caries and periodontal disease in Indigenous adults in Australia published in peer-reviewed journals and to summarise trends over time. In addition, we examined whether the studies investigated associations between putative risk factors and levels of caries and periodontal disease.
Methods PubMed was searched in September 2014, with no date limitations, for published peer-reviewed articles reporting the prevalence rates and/or severity of caries and periodontal disease in Indigenous adults living in Australia. Articles were excluded if measurement was not based on clinical assessment and if oral disease was reported only in a specific or targeted sample, and not the general population.
Results The search identified 18 papers (reporting on 10 primary studies) that met the inclusion criteria. The studies published clinical data about dental caries and/or periodontal disease in Australian Indigenous adults. The studies reported on oral health for Indigenous adults living in rural (40%), urban (10%) and both urban and rural (50%) locations. Included studies showed that virtually all Indigenous adults living in rural locations had periodontal disease. The data also showed caries prevalence ranged from 46% to 93%. Although 10 studies were identified, the peer-reviewed literature was extremely limited and no published studies were identified that provided statistics for a significant proportion of Australia (Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland or the Australian Capital Territory). There were also inconsistencies in how the data were reported between studies, making comparisons difficult.
Conclusions This review highlights a lack of robust and contemporary data to inform the development of policies and programs to address the disparities in oral health in Indigenous populations living in many parts of Australia.
What is known about the topic? Many studies report that Indigenous people in Australia have poorer general health compared with non-Indigenous people.
What does this paper add? This paper documents the available caries and periodontal disease prevalence and experience for Indigenous adults in Australia published in peer-reviewed journals. It demonstrates significant limitations in the data, including no data in several large Australian jurisdictions, inconsistency with reporting methods and most data available being for Indigenous adults living in rural locations. Therefore, the oral health data available in the peer-reviewed literature do not reflect the situation of all Indigenous people living in Australia.
What are the implications for practitioners? It is important for oral health practitioners to have access to current and relevant statistics on the oral health of Indigenous Australians. However, we have highlighted significant evidence gaps for this population group within the peer-reviewed literature and identified the limitations of the available data upon which decisions are currently being made. This paper also identifies ways to capture and report oral health data in the future to enable more meaningful comparisons and relevance for use in policy development.
Additional keywords: Aboriginal, decay, oral health, periodontitis, prevalence.
References
[1] National Advisory Committee on Oral Health. Healthy mouths healthy lives: Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2004–2013. Adelaide: South Australian Department of Health; 2004.[2] Vanobbergen J, De Visschere L, Daems M, Ceuppens A, Van Emelen J. Sociodemographic determinants for oral health risk profiles. Int J Dent 2010; 2010 938936
| Sociodemographic determinants for oral health risk profiles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3c3hsVamuw%3D%3D&md5=c728c6df67cf3b17d43c202ffa06f693CAS | 20339491PubMed |
[3] Watt RG, Sheiham A. Integrating the common risk factor approach into a social determinants framework. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2012; 40 289–96.
| Integrating the common risk factor approach into a social determinants framework.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22429083PubMed |
[4] Gomes MS, Chagas P, Padilha DMP, Caramori P, Hugo FN, Schwanke CHA, Hilgert JB. Association between self-reported oral health, tooth loss and atherosclerotic burden. Braz Oral Res 2012; 26 436–42.
| Association between self-reported oral health, tooth loss and atherosclerotic burden.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22892878PubMed |
[5] Otomo-Corgel J, Pucher JJ, Rethman MP, Reynolds MA. State of the science: chronic periodontitis and systemic health. J Evid Based Dent Pract 2012; 12 20–8.
| State of the science: chronic periodontitis and systemic health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23040337PubMed |
[6] Pinho MM, Faria-Almeida R, Azevedo E, Conceição Manso M, Martins L. Periodontitis and atherosclerosis: an observational study. J Periodontal Res 2013; 48 452–7.
| Periodontitis and atherosclerosis: an observational study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23278448PubMed |
[7] Ramirez JH, Parra B, Gutierrez S, Arce RM, Jaramillo A, Ariza Y, Contreras A. Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease are increased in untreated chronic periodontitis: a case control study. Aust Dent J 2014; 59 29–36.
| Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease are increased in untreated chronic periodontitis: a case control study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2cvhvFOgtQ%3D%3D&md5=823d9b5f83033e0aba33d2d95c73fe35CAS | 24495202PubMed |
[8] UK Department of Health. An oral health strategy for England. London: HMSO Publications; 1994.
[9] Oral Health Monitoring Group. Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2015–2024, healthy mouths healthy lives. Adelaide: South Australian Dental Service; 2015.
[10] Campbell TDGJ. Observations on the teeth of Australian Aborigines. Aust Dent J 1936; 40 290–5.
[11] Harford JSJ, Roberts-Thomson K. Oral health. In Thomson N, editor. The health of Indigenous Australians. Melbourne: Oxford University Press; 2003. pp. 313–38.
[12] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2015. Canberra: AIHW; 2015.
[13] Slade GDSA, Roberts-Thomson KF, editors. Australia’s dental generations: the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004–06. Catalogue no. DEN 165. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2007.
[14] Roberts-Thomson K, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health Oral health of Aboriginal Australians. Aust Dent J 2004; 49 151–3.
| Oral health of Aboriginal Australians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15497360PubMed |
[15] Amarasena N, Kapellas K, Skilton MR, Maple-Brown LJ, Brown A, O’Dea K, Celermajer D, Jamieson L. Associations with dental caries experience among a convenience sample of Aboriginal Australian adults. Aust Dent J 2014; 75 126–33.
[16] Kruger E, Smith K, Atkinson D, Tennant M. The oral health status and treatment needs of Indigenous adults in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Aust J Rural Health 2008; 16 283–9.
| The oral health status and treatment needs of Indigenous adults in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18808486PubMed |
[17] Roberts-Thomson KF, Do LG, Bartold PM, Daniels J, Grosse A, Meihubers S. Prevalence, extent and severity of severe periodontal destruction in an urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Aust Dent J 2014; 59 43-7
| Prevalence, extent and severity of severe periodontal destruction in an urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24502510PubMed |
[18] Smith K, Kruger E, Dyson K, Tennant M. Oral health in rural and remote Western Australian Indigenous communities: a two-year retrospective analysis of 999 people. Int Dent J 2007; 57 93–9.
| Oral health in rural and remote Western Australian Indigenous communities: a two-year retrospective analysis of 999 people.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2s3psFyqsA%3D%3D&md5=08ffb4c2de4a73c74f2c768562e95909CAS | 17506468PubMed |
[19] Durey A, Bessarab D, Slack-Smith L. The mouth as a site of structural inequalities; the experience of Aboriginal Australians. Community Dent Health 2016; 33 161–3.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2s7kvValug%3D%3D&md5=a0efc79689384dfbac3a9db2132e1746CAS | 27352474PubMed |
[20] Brennan DS, Roberts-Thomson KF, Spencer AJ. Oral health of Indigenous adult public dental patients in Australia. Aust Dent J 2007; 52 322–8.
| Oral health of Indigenous adult public dental patients in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1c7gvVahsA%3D%3D&md5=d07814c608a4f44dbcdea8f5cdadbe26CAS | 18265689PubMed |
[21] Kapellas K, Do LG, Mark Bartold P, Skilton MR, Maple-Brown LJ, O’Dea K, Brown A, Celermajer DS. Effects of full-mouth scaling on the periodontal health of Indigenous Australians: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Periodontol 2013; 40 1016–24.
| Effects of full-mouth scaling on the periodontal health of Indigenous Australians: a randomized controlled trial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23992525PubMed |
[22] Williams S, Jamieson LM, MacRae A, Gray C. Review of Indigenous oral health. Australian Indigenous Health Info Net; 2011. Available at: http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/other-health-conditions/oral/reviews/our-review [verified 10 June 2015].
[23] Jamieson LM, Roberts-Thomson KF, Sayers SM. Dental caries risk indicators among Australian Aboriginal young adults. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38 213–21.
| Dental caries risk indicators among Australian Aboriginal young adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20059488PubMed |
[24] Jamieson LM, Sayers SM, Roberts-Thomson KF. Clinical oral health outcomes in young Australian Aboriginal adults compared with national-level counterparts. Med J Aust 2010; 192 561
[25] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, June 2011. 2011. Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3238.0.55.001 [verified 12 June 2015].
[26] Endean C, Roberts-Thomson K, Wooley S. Anangu oral health: the status of the Indigenous population of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands. Aust J Rural Health 2004; 12 99–103.
| Anangu oral health: the status of the Indigenous population of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15200519PubMed |
[27] Jamieson LM, Armfield JM, Roberts-Thomson KF, Sayers SM. A retrospective longitudinal study of caries development in an Australian Aboriginal birth cohort. Caries Res 2010; 44 415–20.
| A retrospective longitudinal study of caries development in an Australian Aboriginal birth cohort.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cjpsFSrsg%3D%3D&md5=58b2433c6164694d10da29d7d0eaeebaCAS | 20720421PubMed |
[28] Kapellas K, Skilton M, Maple-Brown L, Do L, Bartold P, O’Dea K, Brown A, Celermajer DS, Slade GD, Jamieson LM. Periodontal disease and dental caries among Indigenous Australians living in the Northern Territory, Australia. Aust Dent J 2014; 59 93–9.
| Periodontal disease and dental caries among Indigenous Australians living in the Northern Territory, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2cvhvFKqsg%3D%3D&md5=c24ac1589cfcaecf9d5ac7b440a001bfCAS | 24495146PubMed |
[29] Schamschula RG, Cooper MH, Wright MC, Agus HM, Un PS. Oral health of adolescent and adult Australian aborigines. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1980; 8 370–4.
| Oral health of adolescent and adult Australian aborigines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL3M7js1yhtA%3D%3D&md5=4ad6c42600693cb49db3953dea9208baCAS | 6937284PubMed |
[30] Jamieson LM, Gunthorpe W, Cairney SJ, Sayers SM, Roberts-Thomson KF, Slade GD. Substance use and periodontal disease among Australian Aboriginal young adults. Addiction 2010; 105 719–26.
| Substance use and periodontal disease among Australian Aboriginal young adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20148786PubMed |
[31] Jamieson LM, Roberts-Thomson KF, Sayers SM. Risk indicators for severe impaired oral health among Indigenous Australian young adults. BMC Oral Health 2010; 10 1
| 20102640PubMed |
[32] Jamieson LM, Sayers SM, Roberts-Thomson KF. Associations between oral health and height in an Indigenous Australian birth cohort. Community Dent Health 2013; 30 58–64.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3sritVCntQ%3D%3D&md5=bda5abf2e249863e48c89c51292a5e57CAS | 23550509PubMed |
[33] Jamieson LMD, Bailie RS, Sayers SM, Turrell G. Associations between area-level disadvantage and DMFT among a birth cohort of Indigenous Australians. Aust Dent J 2013; 58 75–81.
| Associations between area-level disadvantage and DMFT among a birth cohort of Indigenous Australians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3svhs1Kgug%3D%3D&md5=367a58f8903d880f3dcb010e0612f93fCAS |
[34] Kapellas K, Jamieson LM, Do LG, Bartold PM, Wang H, Maple-Brown LJ, O’Dea K, Brown A, Celermajer DS, Slade GD, Skilton MR. Associations between periodontal disease and cardiovascular surrogate measures among Indigenous Australians. Int J Cardiol 2014; 173 190–6.
| Associations between periodontal disease and cardiovascular surrogate measures among Indigenous Australians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24613366PubMed |
[35] Kapellas K, Maple-Brown LJ, Jamieson LM, Do LG, O’Dea K, Brown A, Cai TY, Anstey NM, Sullivan DR, Wang H, Celermajer DS, Slade GD, Skilton MR. Effect of periodontal therapy on arterial structure and function among Aboriginal Australians. Hypertension 2014; 64 702–8.
| Effect of periodontal therapy on arterial structure and function among Aboriginal Australians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhsFWhurnO&md5=b804747ffe82cf0c79309cc5d5f826baCAS | 24958498PubMed |
[36] Schamschula RG, Cooper MH, Adkins BL, Barmes DE, Agus HM. Oral conditions in Australian children of Aboriginal and Caucasian descent. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1980; 8 365-9
| Oral conditions in Australian children of Aboriginal and Caucasian descent.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 6937283PubMed |
[37] World Health Organization. Oral health surveys – basic methods, 5th edn. Geneva: WHO; 2012.
[38] de Silva AM, Martin-Kerry JM, Geale A, Cole D. Flying blind: trying to find solutions to Indigenous oral health. Aust Health Rev 2015;
| Flying blind: trying to find solutions to Indigenous oral health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26691689PubMed |
[39] Australian Indigenous Health Info Net. Overview of Australian Indigenous health status 2015. Australian Indigenous Health Info Net; 2015. Available at: http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/overviews [verified 12 June 2015].
[40] Do LG, Roberts-Thomson KF. Dental caries experience in the Australian adult population. Aust Dent J 2007; 52 249–51.
| Dental caries experience in the Australian adult population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2snksFeqsw%3D%3D&md5=e77c8e4e9df6afd06feeceafa379dd82CAS | 17969295PubMed |
[41] Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health Periodontal diseases in the Australian adult population. Aust Dent J 2009; 54 390–3.
| Periodontal diseases in the Australian adult population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20415940PubMed |
[42] Casanova L, Hughes FJ, Preshaw PM. Diabetes and periodontal disease: a two-way relationship. Br Dent J 2014; 217 433–7.
| Diabetes and periodontal disease: a two-way relationship.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2M3jtVOqsQ%3D%3D&md5=925051142a04140d11c123863deeffa9CAS | 25342350PubMed |
[43] Taylor JJ, Preshaw PM, Lalla E. A review of the evidence for pathogenic mechanisms that may link periodontitis and diabetes. J Periodontol 2013; 84 S113–34.
| 23631573PubMed |
[44] Simpson TC, Weldon JC, Worthington HV, Needleman I, Wild SH, Moles DR, Stevenson B, Furness S, Iheozor-Ejiofor Z. Treatment of periodontal disease for glycaemic control in people with diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015; 11 CD004714
| 26545069PubMed |
