The 2001 Kentucky Childrens Oral Health Survey: findings for children ages 24 to 59 months and their caregivers.

Purpose: This study was performed to provide a 2001 benchmark of oral health status of children in Kentucky with a comparison to the most recent state (1987) and national surveys.

Methods: Using Basic Screening Survey protocols for visual screenings, a sample of 572 children ages 24 to 59 months was screened in health department clinics and physicians' and pediatric dentists' offices across Kentucky after caregivers completed a questionnaire. Screeners were provided modified Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors training materials. Analyses on the sample and population estimates were done with SAS and SUDAAN software. This weighted population estimate analysis is based on the assumption that sampled children at participating sites are representative of other children at that site, as well as children at refusing sites.

Results: Sample data and adjusted population estimates closely approximated each other. Population estimates indicated that 43% had untreated caries, 47% had caries experience (early childhood caries), and 31% had severe early childhood caries. Thirty-seven percent of the children needed early care, 9% needed urgent care, 39% had never been to the dentist, 44% had a history of "bad bottle behaviors," and 35% of the parents had not been to the dentist within the last year.

Conclusions: Dental caries is a major health and early childhood development problem in high-risk preschool children in Kentucky.