Progress Toward Healthy People 2010 Targets

The following discussion highlights objectives that met or exceeded their 2010 targets; moved toward the targets, demonstrated no change, or moved away from the targets; and those that lacked data to assess progress. Progress is illustrated in the Progress Quotient bar chart (see Figure 21-1), which displays the percent of targeted change achieved for objectives and subobjectives with sufficient data to assess progress.

Objectives that met or exceeded their targets. No objectives in the Oral Health focus area met or exceeded their targets.

Objectives that moved toward their targets. Limited progress was made toward reaching the dental caries objectives (21-1 and 21-2). Exceptions occurred primarily among the adolescent population. Between 1988–94 and 1999–2002, the proportion of 15-year-olds with dental caries (21-1c) declined from 61 percent to 57 percent, achieving 40 percent of the targeted change for this objective. This reduction in caries was likely due to increased use of dental sealants.³ During the same period, the proportion of 15-year-olds with untreated tooth decay (21-2c) dropped from 20 percent to 18 percent, achieving 40 percent of the targeted change.

Smaller gains were noted for children aged 6 to 8 years. Between 1988–94 and 1999–2002, children aged 6 to 8 years achieved 10 percent of the targeted change for dental caries experience (21-1b) and 14 percent of the targeted change for untreated dental decay (21-2b). During the same period, 8 percent of the targeted change in untreated dental decay among persons aged 35 to 44 years (21-2d) was achieved.

The proportion of persons aged 35 to 44 years with no permanent tooth loss (21-3) increased from 30 percent in 1988–94 to 38 percent in 1999–2002, achieving 80 percent of the targeted change. During the same period, 71 percent of the targeted change was achieved for complete tooth loss among persons aged 65 to 74 years (21-4). Destructive periodontal disease in persons aged 35 to 44 years (21-5b) decreased from 22 percent of this population in 1988–94 to 20 percent in 1999–2000, attaining 25 percent of the targeted change for this objective.

The proportion of children who have received dental sealants on their molar teeth (21-8) increased between 1988–94 and 1999–2002. During that period, 30 percent of the targeted change for 8-year-olds (21-8a) was achieved, as was 14 percent of the targeted change for 14-year-olds (21-8b).

Between 1992 and 2002, the proportion of the U.S. population served by community water fluoridation (21-9) increased from 62 percent to 67 percent, moving toward the target of 75 percent. This result represented a 38 percent achievement of the targeted change.

The proportion of low-income persons under 19 years of age receiving preventive dental services in the past year (21-12) increased from 25 percent in 1996 to 29 percent in 2002. This movement toward the target of 66 percent was 10 percent of the targeted change. Finally, the proportion of community health centers with an oral health component (21-14) increased from 52 percent in 1997 to 64 percent in 2003, achieving 52 percent of the targeted change.

Objectives that demonstrated no change. Between 1996 and 2002, the proportion of adults aged 40 years and older who visit the dentist annually (21-10) remained constant at 44 percent.

Objectives that moved away from their targets. The proportion of children aged 2 to 4 years with dental caries (21-1a) increased from 18 percent in 1988–94 to 22 percent in 1999–2002, moving away from the target of 11 percent. During this period, the proportion of untreated dental decay in this population (21-2a) also increased from 16 percent to 17 percent, moving away from the target of 9 percent. The proportion of oral and pharyngeal cancers detected at an early stage (21-6) moved away from its target between 1990–95 and 1996–2000. Finally, although the target for the number of IHS and Tribal dental programs (21-17b) had been achieved at baseline (2003), the number of programs declined between 2003 and 2004, moving this objective away from its target.

Objectives that could not be assessed. Reduction of gingivitis in adults (21-5a) was not assessed because of changes in the data collection protocol. Data to assess progress were not available for objectives covering school-based health centers with an oral health component (21-13a and b) or State and local dental programs (21-17a). Because of limited tracking data, four objectives could not be assessed for progress: annual examinations for oral and pharyngeal cancers (21-7), use of the oral health care system by residents in long-term care facilities (21-11), referral for cleft lip or palate (21-15), and oral and craniofacial State-based surveillance systems (21-16).

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