Accessibility of and client satisfaction with dental services in Melbourne

Abstract

Public dental clinics play an important role in delivering dental services to Australian adults on low incomes. Our objective was to compare the accessibility of and client satisfaction with the two main types of public dental service providers in Victoria and with private practice services. Clients attending the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, Northcote Community Health Centre and private practices in Melbourne were surveyed. The hospital's clients faced the greatest ecological and organisational obstacles, while private clients faced the greatest financial and desirability obstacles. Community centre clients faced fewer ecological and organisational obstacles than hospital clients, wit..