Decayed,Missing,And filled teeth among children, United States.

In December 1965 the Division of Health Examination Statistics successfully concluded a survey of the health of the Nation's children aged 6-11 years. The survey, which began in July 1963, was the second of the Health Examination Survey programs, or "cycles ," which, launched successively, produce statistical information about the health of specific segments of the U.S. population. The conduct and operation of the children's cycle closely followed a blueprint prepared for the preceding adult cycle. Examinations were conducted at 40 randomly selected locations in 25 States by means of mobile examination centers manned by physicians, dentists, psychologists, nurses, and technicians. The target population totaled approximately 24 million children (table III, appendix III). It was defined as all noninstitutional U.S. children aged 6-11 living in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) except those living on lands reserved for the use of American Indians. To obtain statistically valid estimates about the health of so many people, a probability sample was designed and selected by a complex, scientific procedure (appendix III). The sample consisted of approximately 7,400 children, or about 185 at each location.