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Prevalence of tooth decay in primary or permanent teetha among children aged 6–9 years, by selected characteristics, United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2017–March 2020.
2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report—Table 6
| Characteristic | 2017–March 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| %b | SE | |
| Total | 50.1 | 2.63 |
| Sex | ||
| Male (reference) | 51.4 | 2.84 |
| Female | 48.7 | 3.32 |
| Race and ethnicity | ||
| White, non-Hispanic (reference) | 43.4 | 3.60 |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 49.7 | 4.91 |
| Mexican American | 70.3* | 6.08 |
| Poverty statusc | ||
| High poverty | 59.9* | 4.31 |
| Middle poverty | 61.4* | 3.47 |
| Low poverty (reference) | 40.5 | 3.68 |
| Poverty statusc | ||
| High and middle poverty combined | 60.4* | 2.81 |
| Low poverty (reference) | 40.5 | 3.68 |
Note: All estimates are adjusted by age (single years) to the U.S. 2000 standard population. Estimates are based on all U.S. race and ethnicity groups, except the estimates for specific race and ethnicity categories. SE = standard error. Reference groups were used to test for statistical differences within sociodemographic characteristics.
* P <0.05 based on t-test for differences against the reference group.
a Defined as having one or more decayed or filled primary teeth or one or more decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth among children with at least one primary or permanent tooth.
b Weighted prevalence estimates.
c Defined as the percentage of family income relative to the federal poverty level (FPL). High poverty = <100% FPL; middle poverty = 100%–199% FPL; high or middle poverty combined = <200% FPL; and low poverty = ≥200% FPL.