Oral health promotion for young adults and adults

Project # 1: Determinants of oral health of adults entering the 4th decade of life (NHMRC)

The purpose of this research is to document the nature, distribution and determinants of oral health among 29‑year‑olds in South Australia so as to identify points of intervention to maintain Australia’s improved oral health further into adulthood. Adults who participated in earlier research as 13-year-olds in 1988–89 will be followed-up with a social survey and oral examination to provide a range of key outcome measures on oral health status and explanatory factors from when they were 13 years old, their dental history and circumstances as 29-year-olds.

Contact person
Dr David Brennan
122 Frome Street
ARCPOH, Dental school, the University of Adelaide
SA 5005
Email: david.brennan@adelaide.edu.au

Publications or reports from study: 

Spencer AJ, Brennan DS. “Social acceptability of occlusal conditions and fixed orthodontic treatment”. J Dent Res 2007;86(Spec Iss A): #053

Project # 2: The impact of declining tooth loss on oral health status and dental care utilisation

The project addresses the consequences of improved oral health in the form of greater retention of natural teeth among middle-aged Australians, with the research hypothesis being that increased retention of natural dentitions will result in higher absolute levels of oral disease and utilisation of dental services by those who retain more natural teeth as they age.
A random sample of 45–54-year-olds residing in metropolitan Adelaide was drawn from the electoral roll by the Australian Electoral Commission. Questionnaire data have been collected from 986 subjects (44.4% response rate) and examinations were performed on 709 subjects (97.5% of the projected target yield). Collection of client-held records after two years was completed by mid-2007.

Contact person
Dr David Brennan
122 Frome Street
ARCPOH, Dental school, the University of Adelaide
SA 5005
Email: david.brennan@adelaide.edu.au

Publications or reports from study
Brennan DS, Singh KA, Spencer AJ, Roberts-Thomson KF. (2006). “Positive and negative affect and oral health related quality of life”. Health Qual Life Outcomes 4: 83.
Brennan DS, Spencer AJ, Roberts-Thomson KF. (2007). “Periodontal disease among 45-54 year-olds in Adelaide, South Australia”. Aust Dent J 52: 55-60.
Brennan DS, Spencer AJ, Roberts-Thomson KF. (2007). Caries experience among 45-54 year-olds in Adelaide, South Australia. Aust Dent J 52: 122-7.
Brennan DS, Spencer AJ, Roberts-Thomson KF. (2007). Quality of life and disability weights associated with periodontal disease. J Dent Res 86: 713-7.
Brennan DS, Spencer AJ, Roberts-Thomson KF. (2008). Tooth loss, chewing ability and quality of life. Qual Life Res 17: 227-35.