Children's preventive dental visits 

Yearly preventive dental visits by:

Yearly preventive dental visits can prevent tooth decay

Examples of preventive dental care include dental cleanings, pit and fissure sealants and fluoride varnish. The American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend at least one preventive dental visit each year, starting by the child’s first birthday or when the first tooth appears, whichever comes first.

We analyzed the prevalence of past year preventive dental visits by sex, race and ethnicity, special healthcare needs, and adverse childhood experiences of the child. We also looked at household poverty, primary language spoken (English v. non-English), parent and guardian education, and health insurance as possible factors associated with children’s past year dental visit.

Race/ethnicity of the child, parent/guardian educational attainment, household poverty, health insurance, and primary language spoken, were statistically different in the United States sample, but not in Minnesota likely due to smaller sample sizes.


   

Nearly 8 in 10 Minnesota children have at least one yearly preventive dental visit

8 out of every 10
Minnesota children (1 to 17 years)

 

(75.4%, 95% CI = 71.8 to 78.7; n = 4,500)

Had at least one preventive dental visit
2019-2020

In 2019-2020, 75% of Minnesota children and 78% of U.S. children had at least one preventive dental visit within the past year.  

There were no statistical differences in the rate of children’s preventive dental visits over time. The percentage of United States preventive dental visits were 78.7% (2016-2017), 77.5% (2017-2018), 79.6% (2018-2019), and 77.5% (78.3%). The percentage of Minnesota preventive dental visits were 77.9% (2016-2017), 75.4% (2017-2018), 78.1% (2018-2019), and 75.4% (2019-2020). 


Children's past year preventive dental visit by age, 2019-2020

Click data points for more information OR Roll over bars for more information
 

Source: National Survey of Children's Health.

 

Children (1 to 17 years) with at least one past year dental visit

1 to 5 years

6 to 11 years

12 to 17 years

United States

Percent

57.9%

86.4%

84.2%

 

95% Confidence Interval

56.3 to 59.4

85.2 to 87.5

83.1 to 85.3

 

Number (sample size)

10,983

19,792

26,082

 

Estimated population

11,365,316

21,010,532

21,062,442

Minnesota

Percent

49.6%

88.2%

85.4%

 

95% Confidence Interval

42.7 to 56.6

82.4 to 92.3

79.4 to 89.9

 

Number (sample size)

170

318

405

 

Estimated population

185,932

385,224

349,163

 

Data is based on a survey of parent or guardian reported measures of non-institutionalized children (i.e., children not in jail, prison or hospital setting). Total sample size: U.S. = 72,210 and Minnesota = 4,500. *Unstable rate: use caution when interpreting rates based on a sample size less than 50 or an estimate with a 95% confidence interval width exceeding 20 percentage points or 1.2 times the estimate. ^Suppression rate: when the denominator is less than 30, numbers are suppressed. Percentages are weighted to population characteristics. See About the National Survey of Children’s Health data for more information.

 

In 2019-2020, U.S. children under age 6 were 1.5 times less likely to have had a preventive dental visit within the past year compared to children aged 6-17 years. Minnesota children under age 6 were 1.8 times less likely to have had a preventive dental visit within the past year compared to children aged 6-11 years, and 1.7 times less likely compared to children aged 12-17 years.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend at least one preventive dental visit each year, starting by the child’s first birthday, when the first tooth appears, or whichever comes first. Preventive visits are important to maintain healthy gums and teeth, prevent dental disease and identify any treatment needs. 


Children's past year preventive dental visit
by special health care needs, 2018-2019

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Source: National Survey of Children’s Health.

 

Children (1 to 17 years) with at least one past year dental visit

CSHSN

Non-CSHSN

United States

Percent

84.5%

78.4%

 

95% Confidence Interval

83.0 to 85.8

77.6 to 79.3

 

Number (sample size)

12,218

36,014

 

Estimated population

11,517,561

43,601,947

Minnesota

Percent

90.5%

75.3%

 

95% Confidence Interval

82.9 to 95.0

71.2 to 79.1

 

Number (sample size)

218

707

 

Estimated population

200,361

762,368

 

Data is based on a survey of parent or guardian reported measures of non-institutionalized children (i.e., children not in jail, prison or hospital setting). Total sample size: U.S. = 59,963 and Minnesota = 1,158. Unstable rate: use caution when interpreting rates based on a sample size less than 50 or an estimate with a 95% confidence interval width exceeding 20 percentage points or 1.2 times the estimate. ^Suppression rate: when the denominator is less than 30, numbers are suppressed. Percentages are weighted to population characteristics. See About the National Survey of Children’s Health data for more information.

 

In 2019-2020, U.S. children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) were 7% more likely to have a past year preventive dental visit, compared to children without special health care needs. Minnesota CSHCN were 17% more likely to have a past year preventive dental visit, compared to children without special health care needs.