Almost 20% of Hispanic and black children ages 2 through 8 years in the U.S. had untreated caries in their primary teeth during 2011 to 2014, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Almost 14% of all U.S. children ages 2 through 8 had untreated caries, with Hispanic children having the highest rate at 19.4%, closely followed by non-Hispanic black children at 19.3%. Children classified as non-Hispanic white had a caries rate of 9.5%.
When broken down by age, almost 11% of children ages 2 to 5 years had untreated caries, while more than 17% of children ages 6 to 8 years were found to have untreated caries.
The data was gathered by dentists in the mobile examination center as part of the oral health component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The report was published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (March 10, 2017, Vol. 66:9, p. 261).
