More than half of all adolescents suffer from some form of periodontal disease. Fifty percent of the geriatric population in community and migrant health centers has untreated caries. An increase in the number of retained teeth in people over 65 has drastically increased the incidence of periodontal disease in this population. In a recent survey which ranked the top diagnoses among users of migrant health centers, dental disease first appeared among children 5-9 years old as the fourth most common diagnosis. In the 10-14 year age group, dental disease was the number one condition among males and the number three condition among females.
Migrant groups appear to exhibit more advanced periodontal disease than do Hispanic groups.
Migrant farmworkers have been found to have an overall limited knowledge of dental care. DHHS publication no. U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987. American Dental Association, Council on Dental Care Programs. Survey of State Dental Programs in Medicaid.