NIDCR/CDC
Dental, Oral and Craniofacial
Data Resource Center

Oral Health, U.S. 2002 Annual Report

Section 7: DELIVERY OF DENTAL SERVICES

During 1997, 39.6% of the American population saw a general dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technician for dental services.

Although over 50% of the U.S. adult population has some degree of periodontal disease, severe periodontal pockets (> or = 6 mm) are found in less than 5% of the adult population. Among adults with extensive periodontitis, only 41% had seen a dentist in the past year and only 1% of visits were specifically for periodontal services (Oliver et al., 1998).

Approximately 20% of the overall population need orthodontic treatment (Proffit et al., 1998). Orthodontic visits were reported by approximately 3% of the population within a 1-year time frame during both 1987 and 1996 (Manski et al., 2000).

Few data are available on the prevalence of endodontic therapy among the U.S. population. Root canal restorations were identified in 5.5% of 5,272 teeth examined from 208 randomly chosen full-mouth radiographic series. European studies suggest that the prevalence of root canal therapy ranges from 3% to 6% among younger adults to 18% to 20% among adults aged 60 and over (Buckley et al., 1995).

SOURCE OF DATA
Analyses reported here are based on data collected in the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Specific preventive dental services reported include general exam or consultation; cleaning, prophylaxis, or polishing; x-rays, radiographs, or bitewings; fluoride treatment; restorations; and sealants. Separate analyses were conducted of orthodontic, periodontic, and endodontic services.

• Preventive dental services received during 1997 included general exam or consultation (33.3%); cleaning, prophylaxis, or polishing (30.7%); x-rays, radiographs, or bitewings (19.3%); fluoride treatment (5.4%); restorations (9.6%); and sealants (1.3%). During 1997, 2.9% of the U.S. population saw an orthodontist, 1.0% saw a periodontist, 1.2% had periodontal surgery, 0.6% saw an endodontist, and 2.0% had root canal therapy.

• Differences by race/ethnicity (Figure 7.8.1)
• A higher percentage of non-Hispanic whites/other used each of the preventive dental services than did Hispanics or non-Hispanic blacks.

• Differences by federal poverty level (Figure 7.8.2)
• A greater percentage of people living at or above the federal poverty level used each of the preventive dental services compared to those living below the federal poverty level.

• Differences by insurance status (Figure 7.8.3)
• A higher percentage of people with any private insurance used each of the preventive dental services compared to those who had any public insurance or were uninsured.

Bullets reference data that can be found in Table 7.8.1.

REFERENCES
Buckley M, Spangberg LSW. The prevalence and technical quality of endodontic treatment in an American subpopulation. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1995;92–100.

Manski RJ, Davidson WM, Moeller JF. Orthodontic dental visits during 1987 and 1996. Am J Orthodont Dentofac Orthoped 2000;118(1):10–13.

Oliver RC, Brown LJ, Löe H. Periodontal diseases in the United States population. J Periodontol 1998:269–78.

Proffit WR, Fields HW Jr, Moray LJ. Prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need in the United States: estimates from the NHANES III survey. Int J Adult Orthodon Orthognath Surg 1998;13(2):97–106.

Figure 7.8.1. Percentage of the population who received preventive dental services during 1997 by type of service and race/ethnicity

[D]

Notes: MEPS reports race/ethnicity as Hispanic, non-Hispanic blacks, and other (including non-Hispanic whites).

* Includes seeing general dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technician.

Data source: 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Figure 7.8.2. Percentage of the population who received preventive dental services during 1997 by type of service and federal poverty level (FPL)

[D]

* Includes seeing general dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technician.

Data source: 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Figure 7.8.3. Percentage of the population who received preventive dental services during 1997 by type of service and insurance status

[D]

Note: Sample size for uninsured receiving fluoride services was insufficient to produce reliable national estimates.

* Includes seeing general dentist, dental hygienist, or dental technician.

Data source: 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institute of Dental And Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)	CDC Division of Oral Health
National Institutes of Health

Privacy Statement | Disclaimers | Accessibility