Research conducted by affordable orthodontists at Celebrate Dental & Braces gathered data from the 2021-2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). The study looks at children, age 1-17 years, who have had oral health problems, which includes toothaches, bleeding gums, or decayed teeth or cavities, during the 24-month period.

Key finding from the study:

  • Louisiana has the worst children’s oral health, with 19.1% of kids having had one or more oral health problems across the 24-month period 2021-2022.
  • Mississippi ranks second, with 17.3%, and New Mexico places third, with 17.1%.
  • The state with the best children’s oral health is Rhode Island, with 10.4% of kids having had one or more oral health problems across the 24 months.
Rank State One or more oral health problems %
1 Louisiana 19.1
2 Mississippi 17.3
3 New Mexico 17.1
4 Oklahoma 16.9
5 Washington 16.7
6 Wyoming 16.7
7 Missouri 16.4
8 Nevada 16.4
9 Arkansas 16.2
10 Idaho 16.2

Dr Kelsey Loveland – Doctor of Dental Medicine – DMD, Doctor of Medicine – MS at Celebrate Dental & Braces commented on the findings:

kelsey loveland specialty pediatric dso“Disparities in dental health across the states are influenced by a combination of socioeconomic factors, public health policies, and access to care. States with higher poverty rates, limited dental insurance coverage, and inadequate public health initiatives, such as community water fluoridation and school-based dental programs, tend to experience worse dental health outcomes. Addressing these disparities requires targeted efforts to improve healthcare access, enhance preventive care programs, and educate communities on the importance of oral hygiene. By giving priority to children‘s dental health, states can decrease the prevalence of dental diseases, enhance academic performance, and improve the quality of life for future generations.”

Louisiana has emerged as the poorest state for children’s oral health, as 19.1% of kids have experienced oral health issues during the 24-month time span 2021-2022. Approximately 11% of children aged 6-14 in Louisiana have received dental sealants on their permanent molars through programs like “Louisiana Seals Smiles” and other similar initiatives​.

Ranking second lowest for children’s oral health is Mississippi, with 17.3% of children have encountered oral health problems in the 24-month period. Around 25% of children aged 6-9 years have untreated tooth decay, which is higher than the national average​ which currently stands at 17%.

The third worst state is New Mexico, with 17.1% of kids experiencing issues with their oral health during the 24 months. To improve child oral health, the state implements programs like the “Make a Child’s Smile” initiative, which provides dental screenings and fluoride varnish applications in schools.

Oklahoma ranks fourth, as oral health issues affected 16.9% of children across the 24-month span. In 2023, around 48% of children visited a dentist and 64% of third-grade children in Oklahoma have experienced dental cavities, indicating a significant need for preventive dental care and education.

Rounding out the top five are Washington and Wyoming, with oral health problems impacting 16.7% of children over the course of the 24 months. In the Evergreen State, about 70% of children brush their teeth twice a day as recommended and in Wyoming, as of 2018, 55.6% of the population served by community water systems had access to fluoridated water. This measure helps prevent tooth decay.

pediatric specialty DSO

Some DSOs Already Expanding into Pediatric Dentistry

Straine Dental Management (SDM), an Emerging Group to Watch in 2024, recently announced a significant expansion into Florida with the affiliation of Myers Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics practices in Middleburg and Jacksonville. This strategic move marks SDM’s entry into the pediatric sector, broadening its service offerings to include specialized care for young patients.

Sage Dental is also expanding its specialty services with the recent acquisition of Children’s Dentistry in Tampa, Florida. This acquisition is part of the DSO’s ongoing strategy to expand its service offerings for patients, the acquisition marks its first location dedicated specifically to pediatrics and orthodontics, with expectations to open additional Sage Dental Kids facilities.

Top states for children’s dental health

Rhode Island has emerged as the best state for children’s oral health, as only 10.4% of kids have experienced oral health issues during the 24-month time span 2021-2022. Recent statistics show that 32% of kindergartners and 46% of third graders have at least one tooth with treated or untreated decay, which are lower than the national averages.

Ranking second best for children’s oral health is Hawaii, with 10.7% of children have encountered oral health problems in the 24-month period. According to the Hawaii Keiki-Hawaii Dental Service Dental Sealant Program, nearly 2,000 public school children have received dental screenings since 2019, and more than half of these children required and received dental sealants.

Methodology:

The states were ranked based on the percentage of children aged 1-17 years who have experienced one or more oral health problems during the 24 month period 2021-2022.

Oral health problems include decayed teeth/cavities, bleeding gums or toothache.

For the most reliable estimates, the study used the two-year combined data (2021-2022) – this is the most current available data.

Full ranking:

Rank State One or more oral health problems %
1 Louisiana 19.1
2 Mississippi 17.3
3 New Mexico 17.1
4 Oklahoma 16.9
5 Washington 16.7
6 Wyoming 16.7
7 Missouri 16.4
8 Nevada 16.4
9 Arkansas 16.2
10 Idaho 16.2
11 California 16
12 Alaska 15.4
13 North Carolina 15.4
14 Michigan 15.1
15 West Virginia 14.9
16 Wisconsin 14.9
17 Delaware 14.7
18 Oregon 14.7
19 South Carolina 14.6
20 Georgia 14.4
21 Utah 14.4
22 Arizona 14.3
23 North Dakota 14.3
24 Texas 14.3
25 Kentucky 14.2
26 New Jersey 14.1
27 New York 14.1
28 Tennessee 14.1
29 Alabama 13.9
30 District of Columbia 13.8
31 Florida 13.7
32 Indiana 13.5
33 Maine 13.4
34 South Dakota 13.3
35 Kansas 13.2
36 Ohio 13.1
37 Virginia 13
38 Colorado 12.9
39 Illinois 12.8
40 Montana 12.7
41 Connecticut 12.6
42 Pennsylvania 12.6
43 Iowa 12.5
44 Vermont 12.1
45 Minnesota 11.8
46 Massachusetts 11.7
47 Maryland 11.6
48 Nebraska 11.4
49 New Hampshire 11.2
50 Hawaii 10.7
51 Rhode Island 10.4

Sources: https://www.childhealthdata.org/browse/survey/allstates?q=10435 and https://lvdentalbraces.com/ who conducted the research.

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