Comparisons between the 2000 and 2005 Smile Surveys should be done cautiously since the types of surveys and sampling strategies varied.  In both the state and King County surveys, there has been an increase in rampant decay (cavities experience on seven or more teeth), which   includes both treated and untreated cavities.   It is believed that many tooth colored fillings, which have recently have become more common, went undetected in the 2000 survey.  Consequently, the increase in rampant decay from 2000 to 2005 may represent the better detection of tooth colored filling materials. From 2000 to 2005, there is no statistically significant difference in the King County rates of untreated disease.  While the rates of dental sealants declined slightly in the state sample, there is no statistically significant difference in the dental sealant rates in the King County surveys from 2000 to 2005. (See Table Six.)

Table Six: Comparison of 2005 and 2000 Smile Surveys,
Washington State and King County

Oral Health Measure	WA State 2000 (n=2699)	WA State 2005 (n=7289)	King County 2000 (n= 1337)	King County 2005 (n= 1758)
% caries free	44%	41%	56%	53%
% with caries experience	56%	59%	44%	47%
% with untreated decay	21%	20%	15%	17%
% with rampant decay	15%	21%	8%	19%
% with dental sealants	47%	45%	44%	41%

In King County, disparities in oral health continue to exist, with children of color having statistically significant higher rates of dental disease. White and Asian/Pacific Islander groups are the only groups that statistically showed a decrease in rates of untreated decay.

Graph Six: Untreated Decay by Race/Ethnicity in King County, 2000 and 2005