Changes in Caries Experience, Untreated Caries, Sealant Prevalence, and Preventive Behavior Among Third-Graders in New York State, 2002-2004 and 2009-2012.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed changes in caries experience, untreated caries, sealant prevalence, and preventive behavior among third-grade children in New York State to monitor progress toward state health objectives.


METHODS
We analyzed children's data from the 2002-2004 (n=10,865) and 2009-2012 (n=6,758) New York State Oral Health Survey. We calculated differences in weighted percentages and 95% confidence intervals for caries experience, untreated caries, sealant prevalence, and preventive behavior. We used logistic regression procedures to assess the independent effects and interaction terms on dental caries experience.


RESULTS
The percentage of children with dental caries and untreated caries decreased from 54.1% and 33.0% in 2002-2004 to 45.2% and 23.6% in 2009-2012, respectively. While this decrease was not uniform across income subgroups, the prevalence of sealants, a key measure of the use of preventive services, increased significantly from 16.7% to 36.0% among lower-income children.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurable improvement in reducing dental caries prevalence among third-grade children has been made in New York State, but this improvement was not uniform across subgroups. Specifically, disease prevalence among lower-income children remained high, underscoring the need to strengthen existing programs and identify additional policy and programmatic interventions.
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Dental Health, Albany, NY ; University at Albany, School of Public Health, Albany, NY.
Jayanth V
JV
Kumar
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Denver, CO.
Vinicius
V
Tavares
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Dental Health, Albany, NY.
Priyanka
P
Kandhari
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Dental Health, Albany, NY.
Mark
M
Moss
Berkshire Medical Center, Department of Dentistry, Pittsfield, MA ; Department of Dentistry, Community Health Programs, Great Barrington, MA.
I Adeyemi
IA
Jolaoso
D002648:Child; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D005459:Fluorides