Children's dental visits 

Yearly dental visits by:

Yearly dental visits can identify oral problems early and prevent tooth decay

Examples of dental care include check-ups, x-rays or filling cavities. The American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend at least one dental visit each year, starting by the child’s first birthday or when the first tooth appears, whichever comes first. For more information, read Predictive Model for Caries Risk Based on Determinants of Health Available to Primary Care Providers [pdf].

We analyzed the prevalence of children’s dental visits by sex, age group, race and ethnicity and special healthcare needs of the child. We also looked at household poverty, primary language spoken, parent and guardian education, health insurance and household poverty as possible factors associated with children’s past year dental visits. Below we report on factors in Minnesota that are statistically significant.


   

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

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

 

(75.8%, 95% CI = 72.3 to 79.1; n = 4,500)

Have at least one yearly dental visit
2019-2020

In 2019-2020, 78% of U.S. children and 76% of Minnesota children had at least one dental visit within the past year. 

There were no statistical differences in the rate of children’s dental visits over time. The percentage of United States dental visits were 79.8% (2016-2017), 78.3% (2017-2018), 80.3% (2018-2019), and 78.3% (78.3%). The percentage of Minnesota dental visits were 79.0% (2016-2017), 75.8% (2017-2018), 78.2% (2018-2019), and 75.8% (2019-2020). 


Children's past year 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 

58.9%

87.7%

84.5%

 

95% Confidence Interval

57.3 to 60.4

86.5 to 88.8

83.4 to 85.5

 

Number (sample size)

11,159

20,022

26,095

 

Estimated population

11,573,975

21,366,143

21,190,018

Minnesota

Percent 

51.2%

89.4%

83.9%

 

95% Confidence Interval

44.3 to 58.2

84.0 to 93.1

77.9 to 88.5

 

Number (sample size)

174

324

403

 

Estimated population

192,562

393,071

344,380

 

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 dental visit within the past year compared to children aged 6-11 years, and 1.6 times less likely compared to children aged 12-17 years. Minnesota children under age 6 were 1.7 times less likely to have had a dental visit within the past year compared to children aged 6-11 years, and 1.6 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 dental visit each year, starting by the child’s first birthday, when the first tooth appears, or whichever comes first. Dental visits are important to maintain healthy gums and teeth, prevent dental disease and identify any treatment needs. 


Children's past year dental visit
by special health care needs, 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

CSHSN

Non-CSHSN

United States

Percent

83.0%

77.1%

 

95% Confidence Interval

81.7 to 84.4

76.3 to 78.0

 

Number (sample size)

14,657

42,619

 

Estimated population

11,554,898

42,575,239

Minnesota

Percent

85.3%

73.7%

 

95% Confidence Interval

78.0 to 90.5

69.7 to 77.4

 

Number (sample size)

214

687

 

Estimated population

191,960

738,052

 

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. CSHCN status is defined by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau's CSHCN Screener, which asks the parent/guardian if the child currently experiences a health consequence and, if so, whether that specific health consequence is due to a medical, behavior, or other type of health condition that has lasted, or is expected to last 12 months or longer. *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 dental visit, compared to children without special health care needs. Minnesota CSHCN were 16% more likely to have a past year dental visit, compared to children without special health care needs.