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QuickStats: Prevalence* of Untreated Dental Caries† in Permanent Teeth Among Children and Adolescents Aged 6–19 Years, by Age Group — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2011–2014
Weekly / January 13, 2017 / 66(1);36
* With 95% confidence intervals indicated with error bars.
† Untreated dental caries (i.e., dental cavities) are defined as tooth decay that has not received appropriate treatment. Data were collected by dentists in the mobile examination center as part of the oral health component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
During 2011–2014, 13.3% of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years had untreated dental caries in their permanent teeth. The percentage of children and adolescents with untreated dental caries increased with age: 6.1% among those aged 6–11 years, 14.5% among those aged 12–15 years, and 22.6% among those aged 16–19 years.
Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Hyattsville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2011–2014. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.
Reported by: Eleanor Fleming, PhD, DDS; efleming@cdc.gov; 301-458-4062; Joseph Afful, MS; Steven M. Frenk, PhD.
Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Prevalence of Untreated Dental Cariesin Permanent Teeth Among Children and Adolescents Aged 6–19 Years, by Age Group — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2011–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:36. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6601a11.
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