The 2023 Kentucky Early Learners’ Oral Health Surveillance Project survey, conducted by the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, revealed that dental decay rates among children aged 2 to 5 years in Kentucky are significantly higher than the national average.
The survey aimed to assess the prevalence of dental decay and treatment needs in children, while identifying the populations most at risk across the Commonwealth, according to a report from News Medical. The research was considered one of the largest state-level oral health surveys among children in pre-kindergarten and Head Start programs.
Pamela Stein, DMD, MPH, Professor in the Division of Public Health Dentistry and co-investigator on the project, explained that the team screened 6,660 pediatric patients across 106 counties in Kentucky. Local dental hygienists were hired to serve as screeners, coordinating efforts at the regional level. These screeners reached out to daycares and Head Start centers to arrange screenings, provided the facilities agreed to participate.
The screeners were trained to identify both treated decay (cavities that had been filled) and untreated decay. If untreated decay was found, they assessed the severity and determined the urgency of treatment required. Screening results were documented on report cards and sent home with the patients, which included referral information for local dentists and contact details for regional coordinators to help parents access care if needed.
The survey concluded that dental decay rates for Kentucky children aged 2 to 5 years are much higher than the national average and comparable to those of the highest risk group in the United States—children living at or below the poverty line.
The study found that multiple demographic, geographic, and social factors may play a role in influencing the rates of tooth decay. The region in which the children lived was the strongest factor associated with untreated decay, followed by the child’s age, the type of facility they attended, and whether they lived in a rural area.
Further analysis highlighted that race, ethnicity, and limited economic resources also increased the risk for dental decay. Higher decay rates were observed in children attending rural Head Start centers and among Black children in impoverished neighborhoods in Jefferson County.
The researchers hope their findings can have a significant impact on the future of dental care for young children in Kentucky. On November 1, a statewide conference was held to discuss the survey results, with community and health leaders brainstorming strategies to reduce dental decay rates among Kentucky’s youngest residents.
“The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry has a statewide mission to increase oral health care access for all Kentuckians,” stated Jeff Okeson, DMD, Professor and Dean of the College of Dentistry. “The survey’s findings can help guide and refine our continued efforts in reducing dental disease in children as a part of that mission. It’s just as important to educate everyone about good oral health practices as it is to improve access to oral health care,” he emphasized.
Despite being a preventable condition, dental decay remains the most common chronic childhood disease, affecting children at rates four times higher than childhood asthma. Other data collected from UK Dentistry’s mobile programs for preschool-aged and school-aged children shows a decline in tooth decay rates over the years, suggesting that early intervention through these programs could be a promising approach to improving oral health and warrants further study.
The survey was funded by the Kentucky Department of Public Health.
