Caries Classification
By Diana Macri, RDH, BSDH, MSEd and Annie Chitlall, RDH, BS
Dental caries remains a significant public health problem in the United States. By age 19, 67% of children will have experienced tooth decay. Once Americans reach the age of 75, 99% will have had dental caries. Oral health disparities persist despite sincere efforts by public health organizations to reduce disease incidence. Individuals with low socioeconomic status experience higher caries incidence and difficulty accessing professional dental care compared with their more affluent peers.
