Definition
Percentage of 6- to 9-year-old children with untreated dental caries.Numerator
Number of 6- to 9-year-old children who participated in the school dental health survey with untreated dental caries.Denominator
Number of 6-to 9-year-old children who participated in the school dental health survey.Why Is This Important?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/children_adults/child.htm (CDC)] says about 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Gender is not a significant factor in decay however, race and percent of poverty level are significant factors. Untreated dental caries is an important indicator of adequate and timely access to dental care.Healthy People Objective OH-2.2:
Reduce the proportion of children aged 6 to 9 years with untreated dental decay in their primary and permanent teeth
U.S. target: 25.9 percent
How Are We Doing?
Of the first through fourth grade students screened in 2015, 4.4% of participants reported that their child needed dental care during the past 12 months but could not get it.How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
Of the first through fourth grade students screened in Utah in 2015, 19.1% had obvious untreated decay. In comparison the CDC says the percent of children aged 5-19 years with untreated dental caries was 18.6% (2011-2014).What Is Being Done?
Some Utah Department of Health activities addressing access to dental care include:
* In 2012 the number enrolled for Medicaid dental benefits was 169,000 children from birth through 18 years of age.
* In 2012 the number enrolled in Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was 36,000 children eligible for basic dental services.
* The Utah Oral Health Initiative facilitates the formation of local oral health coalitions to improve access to dental care.Health Program Information
For other oral health related reports, click on the Health Topics tab, then click on Dental, then click on the + to the right of Publications.