Age at First Dental Visit of Preschool Children Utilizing Public Sector Dental Services in Southeast Queensland, Australia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Key Points

• The aim is to evaluate the age at which preschool children first visit a dentist under public dental services in Southeast Queensland.
• Conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of dental visits in preschool children.
• Examined attendance rates at the recommended age for first dental visit.
• Assessed the impact of intervention programs like LtL on early attendance.
• Identified that few children accessed dental care by the recommended age.
• Notable improvement in attendance due to the LtL program.
• Equity gaps in access to dental services highlighted a need for better referral pathways and parent education.

Abstract