Cavities increasing in baby teeth

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The study averaged the findings from surveys done in 1988-1994 and compared them with the average results from surveys done in 1999-2004.

The results are being reported Monday at a meeting of the American Association for Public Health Dentistry in Denver.

Fewer cavities in older kids
Experts were heartened that the study found that cavities in permanent teeth decreased to 21 percent of children in 1999-2004, from 25 percent in 1988-1994.

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That may be at least partly due to the growing prevalence of dental sealants, a plastic coating applied to teeth that protects against decay. About 38 percent of children and teens ages 12 to 19 had dental sealants in the most recent set of surveys.

Some of the other findings:

Among senior citizens ages 65 and older, the percentage with complete tooth loss dropped to 27 percent, from 34 percent.
Moderate and severe gum disease in adults ages 20 to 64 dropped to 5 percent, from 10 percent. Gum disease dropped to 17 percent, from 27 percent, in seniors.
Tooth decay in the permanent teeth of children ages 6 to 11 dropped to 21 percent, from 25 percent. Tooth decay in youths ages 12 to 19 dropped to 59 percent, from 68 percent.
The percentage of adults who said they’d been to a dentist in the previous year dropped to 60 percent, from 66 percent.

MSNBC.com health editor Jane Weaver contributed to this report

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