In the first stage of data collection respondents supplied information during a CATI on variables such as self-reported health status, use of dental services, demographics and socio-economic status. The percentage of persons who reported receiving dental services in the categories of fillings, extractions, oral prophylaxis, x-rays, crown/bridge, dentures and gum treatment within the last year comprised the dependent variables. The explanatory variables consisted of site of last visit, sex, reason for last visit, income, and age. At the examination, clinical oral status was collected from dentate people by dentists trained in standard survey procedures [11 ], but these data are not used in this analysis. Further information, such as psycho-social variables, also not used in this analysis, was collected later through a mailed questionnaire. The research was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Adelaide.
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