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Increase the proportion of low-income youth who have a preventive dental visit — OH‑09

Status: Getting worse

  
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Getting worse

Most Recent Data:
68.7 percent (2020-21)

Target:
79.9 percent 1

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
75.8 percent of children aged 1 through 17 years who reside in households with income less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level received a preventive dental service in 2016-17 2

Increase the proportion of low income youth who have a preventive dental visit

Target-Setting Method
Percentage point improvement

Summary

Untreated tooth decay can lead to problems like pain and infections. Regular dental care can prevent these problems, but many children and adolescents in the United States — especially in low-income families — don’t get preventive dental care. Training non-dental providers to do oral screenings, talk to caregivers about oral health, and refer patients to dental care can help more children and adolescents get preventive oral health care.

Workgroup: Oral Health Workgroup



1. Target has been revised. See Data Methodology and Measurement for more information.

2. Baseline has been revised. See Data Methodology and Measurement for more information.