One in Three Young Children Do Not Get Regular Dental Care

These two fact sheets show that nearly one-third of young children 11 years of age or younger have never visited a dental provider or have not visited a dental provider in more than one year. Numbers are provided by California Assembly and Senate districts.

Research findings include:

• 29% of young California children do not get regular dental care.
• The great majority of these children have never visited a dental provider.
• Some Assembly and Senate districts have significantly lower rates of regular dental visits than the state average.

These documents illustrate geographic disparities in regular dental care of young children in California and highlight the missed opportunities for provision of early preventative care. Children without regular dental care have a higher risk of poor oral health, including higher rates of cavities.

The fact sheets were funded by a grant from the California HealthCare Foundation. Findings are based on data collected in the 2005 California Health Interview Survey.

Publication Authors:

• Nadereh Pourat, PhD