21-1


21-1.		Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who have dental caries experience in their primary or permanent teeth.

21-1a. Reduce the proportion of young children with dental caries experience in their primary teeth.

Target: 11 percent.

Baseline: 18 percent of children aged 2 to 4 years had dental caries experience in 1988–94.

Target setting method: Better than the best.

Data sources: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC, NCHS; Oral Health Survey of Native Americans, 1999, IHS; California Oral Health Needs Assessment of Children, Dental Health Foundation, 1993–94.

21-1b. Reduce the proportion of children with dental caries experience in their primary and permanent teeth.

Target: 42 percent.

Baseline: 52 percent of children aged 6 to 8 years had dental caries experience in 1988–94.

Target setting method: Better than the best.

21-1c. Reduce the proportion of adolescents with dental caries experience in their permanent teeth.

Target: 51 percent.

Baseline: 61 percent of adolescents aged 15 years had dental caries experience in 1988–94.

Target setting method: Better than the best.

Data sources: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES), CDC, NCHS; Oral Health Survey of Native Americans, 1999, IHS; California Oral Health Assessment of Children, 1993–94, Dental Health Foundation.

Children and Adolescents, Selected Ages, 1988–94 (unless noted)	Dental Caries Experience
	21-1a. Aged 2 to 4 Years	21-1b. Aged 6 to 8 Years	21-1c. Aged 15 Years
	Percent
TOTAL	18	52	61
Race and ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native	76* (1999)	90* (1999)	89* (1999)
Asian or Pacific Islander	DSU	DSU	DSU
Asian	34^† (1993–94)	90^† (1993–94)	DSU^† (1993–94)
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander	DNC	79^‡ (1999)	DNC
Black or African American	24	50	70
White	15	51	60

Hispanic or Latino	DSU	DSU	DSU
Mexican American	27	68	57
Not Hispanic or Latino	17	49	62
Black or African American	24	49	69
White	13	49	61
Gender
Female	19	54	63
Male	18	50	60
Education level (head of household)
Less than high school	29	65	59
High school graduate	18	52	63
At least some college	12	43	61
Disability status
Persons with disabilities	DNC	DNC	DNC
Persons without disabilities	DNC	DNC	DNC
Select populations
3rd grade students	NA	60	NA

DNA = Data have not been analyzed. DNC = Data are not collected. DSU = Data are statistically unreliable. NA = Not applicable.
*Data are for IHS service areas.
^†Data are for California.
^‡Data are for Hawaii.