Update on Disparities in Oral Health and Access to Dental Care for America's Children

Dental caries experience in primary teeth among US children aged 2 to 11 years, by family income level, 1988 to 1994 and 1999 to 2004.⁵ dfs = number of filled and decayed surfaces in primary teeth; and FPL = federal poverty threshold or level.

Percentage of US children aged at birth to 21 years with a dental visit in 1996 and 2004, by family income level.⁹ Poor = children in families with income under 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL); low income = children in families with incomes between 101% to 200% of FPL; middle income = children in families with incomes between 201% to 400% of FPL; high-income = children in families with incomes in excess of 400% FPL.

Percentage of US children aged at birth to 21 years with a dental visit in 1996 and 2004, by race and ethnicity.⁹

National average of state-reported dental Medicaid utilization by children, 1999 to 2006.¹⁰