English

Open Wide and Trek Inside

For use with students in grades 1 and 2, this curriculum supplement focuses on oral health and the science of the oral environment.  Includes educational videos and games (in English and Spanish).  

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that protect the chewing surfaces of children’s back teeth from tooth decay.

Overall, the prevalence of sealants in children’s and adolescent’s teeth has increased since the early 1970s. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

Tooth Loss in Adults (Age 20 to 64)

Overall, the prevalence of both partial and total tooth loss in adults has decreased from the early 1970s until the latest cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey oral health examination (2011–2016). In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

Tables 1 and 2 present information about tooth loss for adults aged 20 to 64 years and for selected population groups.

Number of Teeth Remaining (Table 1)

Periodontal Disease in Adults (Age 30 or Older)

The prevalence of periodontal (gum) disease continues to be an important public health problem in the United States as 2 in 5 adults are affected by some form of this disease. Significant disparities continue to affect some population groups and smoking remains a major risk factor for periodontitis.

The table below presents information about the prevalence of severe and nonsevere (mild or moderate) periodontitis among dentate adults 30 years or older.

Oral Cancer 5-Year Survival Rates by Race, Sex, and Stage of Diagnosis

Oral cancer survival rates have increased approximately 27 percent (nearly 15 percentage points) from the mid-1970s until the latest (2012–2018) National Cancer Institute survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

Table 1 presents the most recent oral cancer survival rates (2012–2018) by cancer stage at the time of diagnosis for adult men and women of all ages and for selected racial groups.

Oral Cancer Relative Survival (2012–2018)

Oral Cancer Incidence (New Cases) by Age, Race, and Sex

Oral cancer incidence rates for both sexes have shown a small but significant increase from the mid 2000s until the latest (2015–2019) National Cancer Institute survey. The oral cancer incidence rates for Blacks have decreased significantly over the past three decades for both sexes, but especially for males. The age-adjusted incidence rate for Black men (includes Hispanics) has decreased from a high of 31.5 cases (per 100,000) in 1987 to a low of 12.8 cases in Black men, and from a high of 12.8 cases (per 100,000) to 4.9 cases in Black women (includes Hispanics).

Dental Sealants in Children (Ages 6 to 11)

Dental sealants in children’s teeth have increased from the early 1970s until the latest (2011–2016) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In spite of this improvement, disparities remain in some population groups.

Table 1 presents sealant prevalence for children ages 6–11 years and for selected subgroups for the last two cycles of the NHANES oral health examination.

Prevalence

Dental Sealants in Adolescents (Ages 12 to 19)

Dental sealants in adolescent’s teeth have increased from the early 1970s until the latest (2011–2016) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In spite of this improvement, disparities remain in some population groups.

Table 1 presents sealant prevalence for adolescents ages 12–19 years and for selected subgroups for the last two cycles of the NHANES oral health examination.

Prevalence