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America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007

Oral Health

Oral health is an essential and integral component of health.52 Regular dental visits provide an opportunity for early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of oral and craniofacial diseases and conditions. Good oral health requires self-care and professional care. Routine dental visits are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry beginning at one year of age.53 Dental caries (cavities) is the single most common disease of childhood.52 Since the early 1970s, the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth has dramatically declined in school-aged children, due to prevention efforts such as community water fluoridation programs and increased use of toothpastes containing fluoride.52 Dental caries, however, remains a significant problem among certain racial or ethnic groups and among poor children.

Indicator HC4.A: Percentage of children ages 2–17 with a dental visit in the past year by poverty status, 1997–2005

Indicator HC4.A: Percentage of children ages 2–17 with a dental visit in the past year by poverty status, 1997–2005

NOTE: From 1997–2000, children were identified as having a dental visit in the past year by asking parents "About how long has it been since your child last saw or talked to a dentist?" From 2001–2005, the question was slightly modified, and parents were asked, "About how long has it been since your child last saw a dentist?" Parents were directed to include all types of dentists, such as orthodontists, oral surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.

  • In 2005, 76 percent of children ages 2–17 had a dental visit in the past year. This percentage remained relatively constant since 1997, ranging from 73–76 percent.
  • In 2005, 66 percent of children in poor families (family income less than 100 percent of the poverty level) and 69 percent of children in near-poor families (family income 100–199 percent of the poverty level) had a dental visit in the past year, compared with 82 percent in non-poor families (family incomes of 200 percent or more of the poverty level).
  • One-half of children ages 2–17 uninsured for health care had a dental visit in the past year, compared with 71 percent of children receiving Medicaid or other public health insurance and 82 percent of children with private health insurance.
  • From 1997 to 2005, children ages 2–4 were less likely to have had a dental visit in the past year (48 percent in 2005) than children ages 5–11 (84 percent in 2005) and youth ages 12–17 (82 percent in 2005).
  • In 2005, 88 percent of children ages 12–17 with private health insurance had a dental visit in the past year, compared with 47 percent of children without health insurance. Among children ages 2–4, 52 percent with private health insurance had a dental visit, compared with 31 percent of uninsured children.

Indicator HC4.B: Percentage of children ages 2–17 with untreated dental caries (cavities) by age and poverty status, 1999–2002 and 2003–2004

Indicator HC4.B: Percentage of children ages 2–17 with untreated dental caries (cavities) by age and poverty status, 1999–2002 and 2003–2004

NOTE: Children ages 2–5 had at least one primary tooth with untreated decay. Children ages 6–17 had at least one permanent tooth with untreated decay. Children ages 2–17 had at least one primary or permanent tooth with untreated decay. Thus, estimates for children ages 2–17 may be higher than estimates for children ages 2–5 and ages 6–17 combined.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

  • In 2003–2004, 25 percent of children ages 2–17 had untreated dental caries (cavities), an increase from 21 percent in 1999–2002.
  • In 2003–2004, 23 percent of children ages 2–5 and 14 percent of children ages 6–17 had untreated dental caries (cavities) upon dental examination.
  • In 2003–2004, among children ages 2–5, 29 percent of children from poor and near-poor families (those with family incomes of less than 100 percent and 100–199 percent of the poverty level, respectively) had untreated dental caries, compared with 18 percent of children from non-poor families (those with family incomes of 200 percent or more of the poverty level).
  • From 1999–2002 to 2003–2004, the percentage of children ages 2–5 who had untreated dental caries declined by 3 percentage points among children from poor families, but increased for children from near-poor and non-poor families. The percentage of children ages 6–17 with untreated dental caries increased for all levels of family income.
  • For both younger and older children, the percentage of children with untreated dental caries was higher among Mexican American children than among White, non-Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic children.

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52 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

53 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (1999) Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, IL: The Academy.