Dental Caries
Dental caries (tooth decay) remains the most prevalent chronic disease in adolescents, even though it is largely preventable. Caries has decreased over the past four decades, though disparities remain among some population groups.
For details, go to: Dental Caries (Tooth Decay) in Adolescents (Age 12 to 19)
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 adolescents’ teeth has increased since the early 1970s, though significant disparities remain in some population groups.
For details, go to: Dental Sealants in Adolescents (Age 12 to 19)
Treatment Needs
One way to measure access to dental care is to ask people when they last visited a dentist. In adolescents, this measure has improved in recent years, though disparities remain among some population groups.
For details, go to: Treatment Needs in Adolescents (Age 12 to 19)