GAO Report: Extent of Dental Disease in Children Has Not Decreased, and Millions Are Estimated to Have Untreated Tooth Decay

Dental disease remains a significant problem for children aged 2 through 18 in Medicaid. Nationally representative data from the 1999 through 2004 NHANES surveys—which collected information about oral health through direct examinations—indicate that about one in three children in Medicaid had untreated tooth decay, and one in nine had untreated decay in three or more teeth (see figure).