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Improving Oral Health


See Also:

Oral Health At A Glance 2004

Prevention Effectiveness

Oral Health Web Site


Each year in the United States, 500 million dental visits occur. Despite that large number, however, many U.S. children and adults do not have access to dental care and, therefore, receive none. Tooth decay is one of the most common infectious diseases among U.S. children.

Effects of Tooth Decay

This preventable health problem begins early: nearly a fifth of 2- to 4-year-olds, more than half of 8-year-olds, and more than three-fourths of 17-year-olds already have tooth decay. Among low-income children, almost half of cavities are untreated, and may cause pain, dysfunction, poor appearance, and underweight—problems that greatly reduce a child’s capacity to succeed.

Adults also have serious oral health problems. Almost three of every 10 adults older than 65 years have lost all of their teeth because of cavities or gum disease. Each year, about 30,000 cases of mouth and throat cancers are diagnosed, and more than 8,000 people die of these diseases. 

Costs

Nearly $68 billion is spent on dental services each year. More than 108 million Americans do not have dental insurance. For each child without medical insurance, 2.6 are without dental insurance; for each adult without medical insurance, three are without dental insurance.

Percentage of Children Who Have Experienced Dental Decay

This bar chart of 1988-1994 data shows how tooth decay affects U.S. children at very young ages and becomes more common as children grow older. About 10 percent of 5-year-olds had at least one cavity in a permanent tooth, compared with about 30% of 10-year-olds and more than 75% of 17-year-olds. Baby teeth are also affected by tooth decay. More than 40 percent of 5-year-olds had at least one cavity in a baby tooth, compared with nearly 60 percent of 9-year-olds. Source:  National Center for Health Statistics, CDC.  Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994

Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988– 1994.

 



 
CDC Goals

  • To support state and community programs to prevent oral disease.
  • To promote oral health nationwide in communities, schools, and health care settings.
  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of selected preventive strategies. 

Effectiveness of Measures to Reduce Oral Disease

Proven preventive measures (e.g., water fluoridation, dental sealants, smoking prevention programs) can reduce oral and dental diseases. However, these measures are often unavailable to those who need them most. 

Community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, both for families and the health care system. In fact, for large communities of more than 20,000 people where it costs about 50¢ per person to fluoridate the water, every $1 invested in this preventive measure yields $38 savings in dental treatment costs. 

Examples of CDC Activities

  • In FY2001, CDC provided $2.3 million to oral health programs in 19 states and Palau.
  • Provides grants to 10 states and 1 American Indian tribe to assist with community water fluoridation systems.
  • Builds and supports the infrastructure of state oral health programs. Five states and one territory now have funding to build core capacity to improve oral health.
  • Promotes and supports the integration of oral health components into coordinated school health programs.
  • Supports intervention and dissemination research to strengthen the scientific evidence of the benefits of oral disease prevention programs in communities.
  • Influences oral health practice and policy by developing and distributing guidelines based on scientific research. 

Examples of State Activities

Maine, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin: One proven strategy for reaching children at high risk for dental disease is through school programs that are linked with dental care professionals in the community. In FY2001, CDC funded programs through the state education agencies in these four states to develop and implement models for improving access to oral health education, prevention, and treatment services for school-aged children who are at high risk for oral disease. CDC will evaluate the applicability of these models to other states.

Wisconsin: “Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin” is a statewide program, supported by CDC, to improve the oral health of Wisconsin children through school and community partnerships. By the 2001 school year, this program enabled 40 new dental sealant programs to be set up in communities. More than 5,500 school children in 40 counties across Wisconsin received dental sealants through this program in 2001. 

Percentage of Americans Aged 65 Years or Older Who Have Lost All Natural Teeth,* 1999

Percentage of Americans Aged 65 Years or Older Who Have Lost All Natural Teeth,* 1999. Click below for text description.

* Healthy People 2010 Goal less than or equal to 20%. 
Source: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

(A text version of this graphic is also available.)

 
Related Information


One or more documents on this Web page is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader (a free application) to view and print these documents.


 




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This page last reviewed August 10, 2004

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion