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 children’s preventive 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 preventive dental visits. Below we report on factors in Minnesota that are statistically significant.
8 in 10 Minnesota children have at least one yearly preventive dental visit
8 out of every 10
Minnesota children (1 to 17 years)
(78.1%, 95% CI = 74.4 to 81.3; n = 1,158)
Had at least one preventive dental visit
2018-2019
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, 2018-2019
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 | 61.0% | 88.3% | 85.9% |
|
| 95% Confidence Interval | 59.3 to 62.6 | 87.1 to 89.4 | 84.7 to 86.9 |
|
| Number (sample size) | 9,332 | 16,776 | 22,124 |
|
| Estimated population | 12,046,971 | 21,681,012 | 21,391,435 |
| Minnesota | Percent | 52.5% | 90.8% | 89.0% |
|
| 95% Confidence Interval | 45.5 to 59.5 | 84.6 to 94.7 | 83.5 to 92.8 |
|
| Number (sample size) | 180 | 313 | 432 |
|
| Estimated population | 205,456 | 399,406 | 357,866 |
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 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
|
| 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.