Summary

In October 1999 the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) recommended that a report be prepared on ‘The burden, trends and distribution of oral health problems in Australia and the trends in clinical approaches to dealing with those problems’.

A Steering Committee representing all jurisdictions was formed, led by South Australia, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Dental Statistics and Research Unit at Adelaide University was engaged to assist in the preparation of the report.

An interim report was presented to AHMAC in June and to the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference in July 2000.

In presenting the final report to AHMAC the Steering Committee has, as its goals, the improvement of oral health and the delivery of better dental care to all Australians.