Minnesota Department of Health
February 2011
Third Grade Oral Health Basic Screening Survey
This fact sheet highlights selected findings from
Methods
The basic screening survey (BSS) is a
standardized cross sectional open-mouth
survey developed by the Association of State
and Territorial Dental Directors to assess and
monitor oral health status of a population.
The survey observes the presence of dental
caries, fillings and significant infection that
requires immediate care.
the first Basic Screening Survey (BSS) conducted
in third grade students attending Minnesota public
schools in 2010.
Dental Sealant (Figure 1)
The state average school sealant rate of at least
one sealant on a permanent molar (64%) is
significantly better than the national average
(23%) and more than achieves the Healthy
People’s 2010 target of 50%.
Screening was done on third grade students
in 40 randomly selected public schools with
classroom size of ten or more students. A
total of 1,766 third grade students were
observed for the presence of sealant (on at
least one molar) and treated and untreated
tooth decay (caries experience).
Caries (dental cavities) Experience
(Figure 1)
Minnesota’s third graders experience caries
(indicated by the presence of fillings and/or
cavities) at a rate of 55%, which is not statistically
different from the U.S average (52%), but does
not meet the Healthy People target of 42%.
The BSS questionnaire was pre-tested in
three pilot schools. Data were collected from
the representative sample of schools between
February and May 2010 by trained contract
staff, MDH staff, and 31 volunteer dental
hygienists.
Untreated Tooth Decay (Figure 1)
About 18% of third grade students surveyed have
untreated tooth decay. This proportion is lower
than the 29% of their peers nationwide and below
the Healthy People 2010 target of 21%.
Minn
80.0%
USA
Active consent was obtained from parents or
guardians of students prior to screening.
Healthy People 2010
64.1%
60.0%
50.0%
54.9%
Figure 1
52.0%
42.0%
40.0%
29.0%
23.0%
18.1%
20.0%
21.0%
0.0%
Sealant
Caries Experience
Untreated Caries
Oral Disease Prevention Unit
85 East Seventh Place, PO Box 64882
St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
Phone: 651-201-3749 | http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/chp/oralhealth/
Ethnicity & Race (Figure 2)
Fewer Hispanic students have dental sealants
when compared to non-Hispanic children
and children in other racial groups. There is a
statistically significant difference between
non-Hispanic white (67%) and Hispanic
students (49%).
While there are no statistically significant
differences among the students in their caries
experience and untreated cavities, nonHispanic white students generally have fewer
cavities and lower caries experience.
Figure 2
Untreated
Caries
Caries
Experience
Sealant
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
Hispanic, n=90
Non-white, non-Hispanic, n=252
White, non-Hispanic, n=1,345
Community Socioeconomic
Status (Figure 3)
A school’s free and reduced price lunch
(FRL) eligibility status can be a proxy for
community socioeconomic status. There is a
strong indication of a positive dose-response
relationship between oral health indicators
and FRL eligibility status. Schools with
higher proportions of students on or qualified
for the FRL program had increased rates of
fillings and/or untreated tooth decay.
In general, schools with 25% or fewer
students on or qualified for FRL program
have better oral health status than their peers
in schools with 75% or more students. There
are statistically significant differences in
these groups in the presence of sealants on
molar teeth and caries experience.
Figure 3
Untreated
Caries
Caries
Experience
Sealant
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
75% or m ore student n=154
50-74%, student n=205
26-49%, student n=953
25% or less, student n=454
Conclusion
Minnesota’s third grade BSS shows mixed findings. Sealant rates indicate that Minnesota
schoolchildren receive preventive treatment, while caries experience and untreated caries rates
indicate that restorative services and treatment need are on par with the rest of the nation. Despite
preventive strategies, caries experience is higher than national targets and almost 20% of children
attend school with cavities in their mouths. The burden of oral disease in Minnesota is
disproportionately borne by children from minority populations and schools with higher proportions
of children from lower income families.
Results indicate that opportunities exist to strengthen disease prevention efforts and to implement
strategies that lead to treatment access for specific populations.