In 1981, the United States Public Health Service funded a survey, A Study of Dental outcomes Related to Prepayment. Data were collected on a national probability sample of the U.S. civilian population. Calibrated dental examiners assessed the condition of each of 28 tooth spaces in the permanent dentition in individuals receiving an oral examination utilizing standardized criteria. The percent of all teeth that were sound ranged from 17% in the oldest age category to 67% in the youngest. Molars were least likely to be sound, and most likely to be satisfactorily filled, to need fillings, and to be missing than premolars or the anteriors. The percent of teeth needing a filling varied from three percent to seven percent. The percent of missing teeth increased with age from four percent in the youngest age group to 65% in persons 65 and older. The percent of sound teeth did not vary substantially with education; however, the percent of teeth needing fillings and the percent of missing teeth were negatively correlated with education. Biological factors are critical in the initiating stage of caries while sociodemographic factors may be more important in the treatment that carious teeth receive or that they do not receive. The intent of this project is to prepare a paper for publication. Analysis is complete and a report is being prepared for publication.
