Trends in caries experience in US employed adults from 1971-74 to 1985: cross-sectional comparisons.

The evidence for trends in caries experience among adults is examined by use of data from the NCHS NHANES I survey of dental disease, conducted from 1971 to 1974, and the NIDR Survey of Employed Adults and Seniors, conducted in 1985 and 1986. The main findings of the study are: (1) Mean DMF teeth and surfaces have declined among US employed adults who were 18-44 years old in 1985 compared with similar-aged persons in 1971-74; (2) differences in mean DMF teeth and surfaces could not be detected when persons aged 45 or older were compared; (3) missing and decayed components of DMF decreased in all age groups; (4) mean DF teeth decreased in persons under 30 years of age and mean DF surfaces in persons under 35; (5) improvements in DMF were demonstrated by both genders and all regions of the US; (6) all tooth types (anteriors, premolars, and 1st and 2nd molars) showed improvement in DMF; and (7) while employed whites clearly demonstrated an improvement in DMF, a commensurate improvement among employed blacks was not apparent. As measured by the DMF index, caries experience declined in US employed adults under 45 years old between 1971-74 and 1985.