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QuickStats: Prevalence* of Untreated Dental Caries† in Primary Teeth§ Among Children Aged 2–8 Years, by Age Group and Race/Hispanic Origin — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014
Weekly / March 10, 2017 / 66(9);261
* With 95% confidence intervals indicated with error bars.
† Untreated dental caries are defined as tooth decay (dental cavities) that have 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.
§ Primary teeth are the first teeth (baby teeth), which are shed and replaced by permanent teeth.
During 2011–2014, 13.7% of children aged 2–8 years had untreated dental caries in their primary teeth (baby teeth). The proportion of children with untreated dental caries in their primary teeth increased with age: 10.9% among children aged 2–5 years and 17.4% among children aged 6–8 years. A larger proportion of Hispanic (19.4%) and non-Hispanic black children (19.3%) had untreated dental caries in primary teeth compared with non-Hispanic white (9.5%) children.
Source: CDC/NCHS. 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 Caries in Primary Teeth Among Children Aged 2–8 Years, by Age Group and Race/Hispanic Origin — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:261. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6609a5.
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