The number of Maryland kids with untreated tooth decay has dropped significantly in the past decade, according to the results of the Oral Health Survey of Maryland School Children, 2011-2012, conducted by the University of Maryland School of Dentistry on behalf of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) Office of Oral Health.
The number of Maryland children with untreated tooth decay decreased by approximately 41 percent between 2001 and 2011, the survey showed.
“Progress requires accountability, and by setting goals, we’ve expanded access to health care for 453,000 more Marylanders, many of them children,” said Governor O’Malley. “These numbers, along with the improvements we’ve seen in this survey, show what we can accomplish when we make better choices. Working together, we’ll continue making progress and ensure that every child in Maryland receives the dental care they deserve.”
“Our Administration remains committed to expanding access to high quality oral health services and working to provide Maryland children with potentially life saving dental care,” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “We’re making great progress, but there are still far too many who are not getting the treatment they need. No child should suffer from a preventable condition like tooth decay because they don’t have access to basic dental care.”
