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ONLINE EXTRA: 2016 Oral Health Study of Kentucky’s Youth

Online Extra

Report shows seriousness of oral health care problem among state’s children

The October 2016 report, Making Smiles Happen: 2016 Oral Health Study of Kentucky’s Youth, examines why dental problems continue on an upward trend among the state’s children, even though access to oral health care has increased. The report’s findings are broken down by region, race and socioeconomics, and the study also makes recommendations for improvement.

The work was undertaken by Delta Dental of Kentucky in partnership with Kentucky Youth Advocates and the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. A total of 60 schools across the state were surveyed.

Among the major findings were that two out of five third- and sixth-graders have untreated cavities; and students in those grades who are eligible for free or reduced lunch were more likely to have recently had a toothache, have visited a dentist more than a year ago, have untreated decay, or to be in need of urgent dental care.

The full report can be found here.

Link to Kentucky Youth Advocates news release.