Children

The Health Smiles Healthy Growth 2018-19 Report found that the oral health of Illinois children is slowly improving, but tooth decay is still a significant issue affecting two in five Illinois children. Approximately 22 percent of third-grade students have untreated tooth decay, down from 30 percent in the previous decade. While more children now have dental insurance, there are still significant disparities in the oral health status of certain population groups.

Good oral health care is important for children. Poor oral health can lead to pain, missed school days, distracted learning, difficulty eating, poor nutrition, loss of social confidence, and in severe cases, even death. Healthy baby teeth also help properly guide adult teeth into alignment.

Review data and maps by clicking on the links below.

Illinois School Dental Form Data

In order to attend class, the state of Illinois requires dental exams for all kindergarten, second and sixth-grade children. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) website contains information from every school in the state on the number of children receiving dental sealants, experiencing tooth decay and having untreated tooth decay. View this information by clicking on the links below.

Children Dental Form Data

Head Start Programs Data

Healthy Smiles, Healthy Growth 2013-2014

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Assessing the Oral Health Status and Body Mass Index of Third-Grade Children in Illinois

Heartland Alliance’s open-mouth survey compares the oral health status of Illinois third-grade children by income, insurance status, ethnicity and geographic region. Click here to view the report.