Despite educational efforts,the bulletin Trends in Oral Health Status: United States 1999-2004 reported the national caries rate in children age 2-5 is 28%, and the prevalence of decay in permanent teeth in children age 6-11 is 21%.1 The most recent oral evaluation survey of West Virginia children was in 1998. The results showed 47% of children age
8-18 had caries in their permanent teeth.