Prevalence
Dental caries is a public health crisis!
Consider the following caries statistics:
- 21% of primary teeth (Ages 2-5)
- 51% of permanent teeth (Ages 6-11)
- 54% adolescents ages (Ages 12-19)
Dental care access is influenced by ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Since 2004, untreated dental caries (tooth decay) in primary teeth of 2 to 5 year olds declined significantly.
The greatest declines were seen in low income and Mexican American children.
Many cases of dental caries are undiagnosed, usually because parents or caregivers do not seek dental care at an early age for their children.
Clinicians can play a major role in preventing caries and initiating early treatment.
 
 
 
Joanna Douglass, BDS, DDS
References
Wright JT. The Burden and Management of Dental Caries in Older Children. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2018 Oct;65(5):955-963. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2018.05.005. PMID: 30213356.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2019. www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/OHSR-2019-dental-caries-permanent-teeth.html
Fleming E, Afful J. Prevalence of total and untreated dental caries among youth: United States, 2015–2016. NCHS Data Brief, no 307. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018.