Adults were asked to rate their oral health in the 2008 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey (NDTIS).

The Main Findings - from the report

Over one in five (21%) of the Australian adult population rated their oral health as fair or poor, and 11% rated their oral health as excellent. • The proportion rating their oral health as fair or poor increased with age, from 13% of those aged 18–24 year to almost one‑quarter of those aged 45 years or older. • All the socioeconomic indicators investigated were significantly associated with self-rated oral health. • The largest differences were found in educational attainment, private dental insurance, cardholder status, home ownership and difficulty in paying a $150 bill. • About 40% of those aged 25–64 years without dental insurance and those aged 45–64 years who were renting their home rated their oral health as fair or poor. • The two middle age groups (25–44 and 45–64 years) had the largest differences in rating their oral health as fair or poor among the socioeconomic indicators. see the full report