Current State of Children’s Oral Health in the US

Maintaining good oral health is crucial for children’s overall well-being and development. However, one of the most common dental issues worldwide is dental caries (tooth decay).

In this article, we explore the latest statistics on pediatric dental health. We’ll also highlight key trends, disparities, and the impact of preventive care.

Overview of Pediatric Dental Health

Dental caries is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, affecting a significant portion of children globally. The risk of dental caries varies by age group, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. 

While progress has been made in improving children’s oral health, disparities persist, and access to preventive dental care remains challenging for many families.

Notable Pediatric Dental Health Statistics

Here are some notable statistics regarding pediatric dental health:

Prevalence of Dental Caries

The prevalence of dental caries among children in the United States is a significant concern. Here are some key statistics:

• From 2017 to March 2020, approximately 46% of children ages 2 to 19 had untreated or restored dental caries in one or more primary or permanent teeth.
• About 13.2% of children ages 5 to 19 years have untreated dental caries from 2015 to 2018.
• 23% of children ages 2 to 5 years have had dental caries in their primary teeth from 2011 to 2016.
• The WHO Global Oral Health Status Report (2022) estimated that oral diseases affect close to 3.5 billion people worldwide, with a significant number being children suffering from caries of primary teeth.

Access to Dental Care

Access to dental care is essential for maintaining good oral health. The following statistics highlight the current state of dental care access among children:

• 86.9% of children ages 2 to 17 had a dental visit in the past year as of 2019.
• 75% of U.S. children ages 1 to 17 received preventive dental care in the past year, indicating that one in four kids went without such care, an increase from previous years.
• Children from low-income families are more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities compared with children from higher-income households.
• The expansion of dental insurance coverage has enabled early intervention for more children from low-income households; today, 9 in 10 children in the US have dental insurance.

Impact of Socioeconomic Factors

Socioeconomic factors play a significant role in pediatric dental health. Consider these statistics:

• Children from low-income families are more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities compared with children from higher-income households.
• The rate of kids receiving preventive dental care has dropped by five percentage points from 2018 to 2019, from 80% to 75%.
• Nearly one in four kids (23%) have teeth that are not in very good or excellent condition.
• Mexican American and non-Hispanic Black preschool children have a higher prevalence of caries than their non-Hispanic White counterparts.

Special Health Care Needs

Many children have special health care needs due to physical disabilities, developmental disorders, or orofacial conditions like cleft lip and cleft palate. This can make it difficult for them to receive routine dental care.

Regional Variations in Pediatric Dental Health

Pediatric dental health statistics vary by region in the United States. Factors such as the concentration of dental care providers, insurance status, and geographic location contribute to these disparities.

These regional variations highlight the need for targeted policies and interventions to improve access to dental care and reduce oral health disparities among children across different regions of the United States.

Impact of Preventive Care on Pediatric Dental Health

Preventive dental care is crucial for maintaining good oral health and addressing dental problems before they become more serious. However, the effectiveness of preventive care in improving long-term oral health outcomes among children, especially those enrolled in Medicaid, has been questioned.

In a 2020 study, Texas Medicaid increased reimbursements for preventive dental care to make it more accessible for children. However, the study found no association between this increased access and better long-term oral health in Medicaid-enrolled children.

While preventive care may reduce the need for emergency dental interventions, it doesn’t necessarily translate into reducing the need for dental surgeries.

Despite these challenges, there have been improvements in children’s oral health status and receipt of preventive dental visits in the United States between 2003 and 2011/2012. Oral health status improved in half of the states, and preventive dental visits improved in nearly 90% of states during this period.