Objectives: To assess trends in dental caries in primary teeth among U.S. children aged 2-11 years since the mid 1980's using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Methods: NHANES collects data from representative sample of the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S population. Prevalence and severity of dental caries in primary teeth were compared for two NHANES surveys (1988-1994 and 1999-2002) using equivalent case definitions. Data were analyzed using SAS and SUDAAN to address the complex sampling design. Data were stratified by age group (2-5 and 6-11 years), sex, race/ethnicity (white non-Hispanic, black non-Hispanic, and Mexican-American), and family income (<100%; Ан100%-199%; Ан200% of the federal poverty level [FPL]). Results: An increase of 15% [from 24.2% (95%CI=21.6%-26.8%) to 27.9% (95% CI= 24.6%-31.2%)] and a decrease of 1.5% [from 49.7% (95%CI=46.2%-53.1%) to 49% (95%CI=44.2%-53.7%)] in the prevalence of dental caries were observed in children aged 2-5 and 6-11 years, respectively. The mean dfs increased in both age-groups: 10.7% in the 2-5 years age group [from 2.2 surfaces (95%CI=1.8%-2.6%) to 2.4 surfaces (95%CI=1.8%-2.9%)]; and 8.4% in the 6-11 age group [from 3.4 surfaces (95%CI=3.1%-3.7%) to 3.7 surfaces (95%CI=3.2-4.2%)]. There was a large variability in trends after stratification by sex, race/ethnicity and poverty level. However, none of these changes were statistically significant. Conclusion: These results show no change in the prevalence and severity of dental caries between both surveys. These results are consistent with data reported by the National Institute of Dental Research 1986-1987 national survey of schoolchildren, and suggest a leveling out of the decline in dental caries in primary teeth reported in the U.S. since the early 1970's.

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