Survey looks into oral health of New Zealanders

About 2000 adults and 1000 children are expected to take part in the 2009 New Zealand Oral Health Survey that is being conducted from March to November 2009.

The Ministry of Health commissioned the survey to gather up-to-date information about the oral health of New Zealand children and adults and the oral health services they use. This is the first nationwide survey looking at people's teeth, mouth and gums in 20 years.

“Information from the survey will tell us, for example, whether or not we are succeeding in reducing the prevalence of tooth decay and tooth loss. It will help us to identify what is and is not working and to recommend programmes and strategies to improve oral health, especially for children and adolescents,” explained Dr Robin Whyman, the Ministry of Health’s Chief Dental Officer.

“District Health Boards can use the information from the survey to improve oral health promotion programmes and services. The survey results will also give universities an understanding of the training needs of the future workforce. In addition, professional bodies, including the NZ Dental Association and the NZ Dental Therapists Association, can use the results to inform their efforts to raise public awareness on how to maintain healthy teeth and gums,” he said.

The survey consists of a face-to face interview and a dental examination. CBG Health Research Ltd is conducting the interviews and qualified and registered dentists specially trained for this survey are doing the examinations. The NZ Dental Association is working with the Ministry of Health to encourage dentists to make their private practice dental surgeries available free of charge for the examinations. Defence Dental, the dental service arm of the New Zealand armed forces, is helping carry out the examinations and procure equipment required for these examinations.

During the interview, survey participants will be asked questions such as what problems they may have with their teeth and mouth, how often they brush their teeth and the main reason for their last visit to a dentist.

A dress rehearsal started in Northland on 18 February 2009 and the full survey will be rolled out progressively across the country from 16 March 2009. Results are expected to be published in mid-2010.

Two nationwide surveys conducted in 1976 and 1988 provided snapshots of the prevalence and severity of New Zealanders' oral health problems and identified inequalities in oral health related to ethnicity and socio-economic status.

“By conducting this survey, we will better understand whether there have been improvements in oral health since 1988 and where the greatest needs now exist. Using information from the survey, we will be able to advise what more needs to be done to sustain the improvements,” Dr Whyman said.