A study comparing data from groups of children requiring healthcare at Starship Children’s Hospital with the Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) population has found that poor oral health pervades children in the Auckland region, with significant inequities. Data was extracted for Starship general medical inpatients, grommet surgery day stay patients and bronchiectasis specialist clinic outpatients in 2019. All Starship patient groups had significantly lower caries-free rates in Māori and Pacific compared with European children, and were less likely to have an oral health record than the ARDS population. The Starship specialist clinic outpatient group had a significantly lower caries-free rate than the ARDS population. The study authors concluded that structures and systems need to be developed urgently to improve access and uptake of the ARDS, including the opportunistic circumstance of hospital appointments and admissions.
