Periodontal disease among youths 12-17 years, United States.

Contents-This report presents national estimates of the prevalance and severity cf periodontal disease among youths aged 12-17 years in the United States according, to race, sex, age, and other selected demographic characteristics. The severity and prevalance of periodontal disease were measured by the Periodontal Index (PI). A correlation analysis of the interrelation of the PI and selected demographic variables is also included. Background and Source of Data-During 1966-70 the Division of Health Examination Statistics conducted a survey of the health uf the Nation's youth. The target population was the 22.7 million noninstitutionalized U.S. youths aged 12-17 iiving in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) except those residing on lands reserved for American Indians. A probability sample of 7,514 youths were selected to be representative of the population of U.S. youths. The sample design and the procedure by which the sample was selected are described in appendix III. The 1966-70 survey was the third in the series of sample surveys conducted by the Division of Health Examination Statistics on specified segments of the U.S. population in which health status was determined by direct examination. The first survey collected information about the health of the Nation's adu1ts aged 18-79 years and focused primarily on determining the prevalence of selected chronic health conditions. The second survey was designed to assess health factors related to the growth and development of the Nation's children aged 6-12 years. The survey of youths was conducted in essentially the same way as that of children. Examinations were conducted in mobile centers that visited 40 randomly selected locations in 25 States.