Oral health trends in Maryland

Objectives: This paper describes the trends in oral health in Maryland over the past decade. Methods: Data were compiled from several surveillance systems and then summarized to assess the trends in oral health in Maryland over the past ten years. Results: The percentage of Maryland children with dental sealants increased from 33.8 to 42.8 percent; the percentage of children that have had a dental visit increased from 18.9 to 47.5 percent; and the percentage of children that received “dental treatment” increased from 8.4 to 22.4 percent. Conclusions: Maryland has made considerable progress in improving the oral health care for children covered by Medicaid. The availability of affordable oral health care for new mothers, adults, and elderly persons is a problem that goes beyond the Maryland boundaries. Following national trends, edentulism and deaths due to oral cancer have declined.