Startling facts
Oral healthcare for babies and toddlers:
- 82% of those in poverty will require a dental visit in the near future
- Each year, 52 million hours are missed from school due to dental problems
- Almost half of US children age 5-17 have experienced tooth decay in their permanent teeth
- 25% of children and adolescents (typically from families with low incomes and minority population) experience 80% of all dental decay occuring in permanent teeth
- 1% of child patients suffer from Early Childhood Caries (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay) by age 5 and are from families typically seen by health centers
- 1 in 10 children (aged 5-11 years) have not visited a dentist within the past 12 months
- Approximately 52% of West Virginians are without any of their natural teeth