Image

Event Description

This research explores the influence of childhood behaviors on adolescent oral health in Australia, utilizing the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to establish connections between early habits, parental influence, socio-economic factors, and oral health outcomes in adolescents aged 16–19, informing policy interventions for enhanced oral health practices.

Abstract

Understanding how childhood behaviours shape the oral health of adolescents is crucial, given the prevalence of dental issues among Australian youth. Dental decay and gum diseases significantly contribute to the Australian disease burden, ranking among the top health concerns for boys and girls aged 5–14 in 2011. Dental decay alone accounted for 4.3% and 5.1% of the total disease burden in boys and girls, respectively.

Encouraging routine oral hygiene practices like regular brushing, healthy diets, hydration, and frequent dental check-ups is vital. Australian statistics show that between 2012 and 2014, around 42% of children experienced decay in their primary teeth, while 24% faced decay in their permanent teeth.

Utilizing the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, this study aims to establish causal connections between childhood behaviours, parental influence, socio-economic factors, and neighbourhood dynamics concerning the oral health of Australian adolescents aged 16–19. By examining childhood influences on later oral health, this research aims to inform policies and targeted interventions, addressing oral health disparities and fostering improved oral health practices from childhood through adolescence.

Speaker Biography

Hesham Al-Sharani, a PhD Candidate at the National Centre of Epidemiology and Population Health, is a qualified Dentist with a Bachelor's in Dental Sciences from Ibb University, Yemen (2014) and a Master's in Oral Surgery from Jinzhou Medical University, China (2019). He served as a teaching staff member at Ibb University's Dentistry Department in Yemen, specializing in dental public health and epidemiology from 2019 to 2022. Hesham has made significant contributions to over 30 research articles focusing on various aspects of dental health.