Health at a Glance 2009
OECD Indicators
This edition also contains new chapters on the health workforce and on access to care, an important policy objective in all OECD countries. The chapter on quality of care has been extended to include a set of indicators on the quality of care for chronic conditions.
Each indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings conveyed by the data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability. An annex provides additional information on the demographic and economic context within which health systems operate, as well as a concise description of key characteristics in health system financing and delivery of services in OECD countries.
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Dental health among children
Dental problems, mostly in the form of caries (tooth decay) and gum disease, are common in developed countries, affecting 60-90% of school children and the vast majority of adults (WHO, 2003). People with poor oral health may experience pain and discomfort, functional impairment, low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with their appearance. Dental and other oral diseases thus represent a major public health problem. Dental diseases are highly related to lifestyle factors, which include a high sugar diet, while also reflecting whether or not protective measures such as exposure to fluoride and good oral hygiene are present. Much of the burden of dental disease falls on disadvantaged and socially marginalised populations (WHO, 2003), and children are especially vulnerable. Treatment of dental disease in developed countries is often costly, although many countries offer free or subsidised dental care for children and adolescents (see also Indicator 6.6 “Inequalities in dentist consultations”).
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