Enhanced Dental Teams
Oral Disease in Arizona
Arizona Children's Oral Health Status and Needs
The burden of oral disease in Arizona is prevalent across all ages, especially the state's youngest residents. The Arizona Department of Health Services Office of Oral Health conducted an oral health survey of preschool children in 2009. The results are stark:
- Arizona has 30% untreated tooth decay in children ages 2-4, compared to 16% nationally
- Four of 10 four year olds have early or urgent treatment needs
- 50% of children 0-4 have never visited a dentist
Tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease (periodontal disease) are the most common oral diseases. Oral diseases cause pain and disability and can adversely affect quality of life and result in lifelong health problems.1 Tooth decay is a significant problem for Arizona children. Low income children, Hispanic children and children of racial minority have more dental treatment needs and visit the dentist less frequently.2
In Arizona, the burden of oral and dental disease has an economic, social and personal cost to society and the citizens. Strategies of Enhanced Dental Teams aim to relieve the burden of oral disease to patients and their community.
Regional Oral Health Needs Assessments
- Regional Oral Health Needs Assessment, Executive Summary, Navajo/Apache/Gila Counties
- Regional Oral Health Needs Assessment, Executive Summary, Pima/Cochise/Santa Cruz Counties
- Regional Oral Health Needs Assessment, Executive Summary, Coconino/Yavapai Counties
- Regional Oral Health Needs Assessment, Executive Summary, Mohave/La Paz Counties
1U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health.
2Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Oral Health. Oral Health of Arizona Children, Current Status, Trends and Disparities, November 2005.