Oral health survey of third grade students--New Hampshire, 2001.

Dental caries is one of the most common chronic disease of childhood. Despite improvements in oral health in the United States, by late adolescence approximately 80% of children have a history of caries. To establish a baseline for monitoring oral disease trends in New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in cooperation with the New Hampshire Department of Education conducted a statewide assessment of the oral health status of third grade students attending public schools during the 2000-2001 academic year. This report summarizes the findings of the survey, which indicate that approximately one half of third grade students in New Hampshire have experienced dental decay. Increasing access to fluoridated water and dental sealants is needed to prevent childhood caries.