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Aims: Evidence suggests there are geographical variations in child oral health and this has prompted research into determinants of that variation. This study aimed to investigate factors attributable to the difference in child oral health between urban and rural areas in Australia. Method: Data were from the National Child Oral Health Study 2012‐14, a population‐based study of 5‐ to 14‐year‐old children, who underwent oral epidemiological examinations by trained examiners. Caries prevalence (dmfs/DMFS > 0) and experience (dmfs/DMFS count) in the primary dentition (5‐ to 8‐year‐old) and permanent dentition (9‐ to 14‐year‐old) were calculated. Children were grouped by residential location (urban or rural areas). A parental questionnaire collected information on family socio‐economic factors, and individual health behaviours (dental access, sugar consumption and toothbrushing). Residential history was used to calculate lifetime exposure to water fluoridation (WF). Analyses were weighted to produce population‐representative estimates. The primary outcomes were assessed separately for the two groups in regression models with robust standard error estimation to estimate prevalence ratios and mean ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Population Attributable Fractions were calculated using the population distribution of the exposures and their adjusted estimates. Results: 10 581 5‐ to 8‐year‐old and 14 041 9‐ to 14‐year‐old children were included. Caries prevalence was higher in rural than in urban areas. In multivariable models, exposure to fluoridation, reason for dental visit and consumption of sugary beverages were consistently associated with caries prevalence and experience. WF coverage attributed to differences in caries prevalence (10% vs 21%) and experience (14% vs 35%) in the permanent dentition. High consumption of sugary beverages attributed to a higher primary and permanent dental caries experience in rural than in urban areas. Dental access was also attributed to the differences between the two areas. Conclusion: Factors at both community and individual levels attributed to the observed differences in child caries prevalence and experience between urban and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many studies of tooth dimensions have reported both diversity among populations and sexual dimorphism. This study aimed to collect data on mesiodistal dimensions and sexual dimorphism of permanent teeth of contemporary Western Australian adolescents.Methods: The mesiodistal dimensions of teeth from 500 adolescents (177 males, 323 females; age, 13-18 years) were obtained from pre-orthodontic treatment digital dental records of examinations using Invisalign technology. Differences between contralateral teeth and sexual dimorphism were analyzed by using SPSS.Results: Mesiodistal dimensions significantly differed between right and left teeth in both sexes. Males had larger teeth than females, and the difference was significant for most teeth. Reverse dimorphism (females had slightly larger teeth than males) was observed for the maxillary second premolar. Mandibular canines exhibited the greatest dimorphism. In addition, secular trends-specifically, a reduction in the degree of dimorphism-were observed in mesiodistal dimensions.Conclusion: Mesiodistal dimensions significantly differed between teeth in contralateral quadrants, in both arches. Most teeth exhibited sexual dimorphism, which was the greatest for permanent mandibular canines. Dimorphism was less obvious in this population than in other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]