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Health status indicators > Oral health

Table 28: Oral health indicators: 2002/03 NZ Health Survey

How to interpret results - tables

Indicator	Māori			non-Māori
	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Been to dentist in previous year (self-reported), 15+ years, 2002-03, percent 1,2 *	28.5 23.8-33.2)	29.0 (25.3-32.8)	28.4 (25.4-31.4)	38.0 (36.0-40.0)	47.9 (45.7-50.1)	43.1 (41.5-44.8)

Notes
¹ Age-standardised to 2001 Census total Māori population.
² Prioritised Māori ethnic group - see Methods and Data Sources section for further information.
Source:^* 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey

Māori adults were less likely than non-Māori adults to have visited a dentist in the previous year (RR 0.7, CI 0.6–0.7).

Table 29: Oral health indicators: School Dental Services

How to interpret results - tables

Indicator	Māori		Total NZ
	Fluoridated supply	Non-fluoridated supply	Fluoridated supply	Non-fluoridated supply
Mean no. of missing or filled teeth at 5 years, 2003 1,2 *	3.0	4.9	1.5	2.6
Caries-free at 5 years, 2003, percent 1,2 *	42.2	23.8	61.7	45.4
Mean no. of missing or filled teeth at Year 8, 2003 1,2 *	1.9	2.7	1.4	1.8
Caries-free at Year 8, 2003, percent 1,2 *	37.0	27.7	51.7	39.6

Notes:
¹ Prioritised Māori ethnic group - see the Methods and Data Sources section for further information.
² Non-Māori figures not available.
Source:^* School Dental Services

At school entry (age five years), Māori children had a higher mean number of missing or filled teeth than the New Zealand average, and were less likely to be caries-free. This is the case in both fluoridated and non-fluoridated water supplies.

The disparity was greatest at age five years. There was some reduction in disparity by Year 8, although Māori children still had a higher mean number of missing and filled teeth than the New Zealand average, and were less likely to be caries-free.

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