Dental care

About three-quarters of Iowa's children had a dental visit in the previous year (74%). Fifteen percent of children had never been to the dentist. While the large majority of children without a dental visit were under age four, three percent of those ages 5-9 had never been to the dentist. Almost half of children (46%) were thought to need dental care in the previous year. Need varied by age; those under age four (19%) were much less likely to be perceived as needing dental care than those age over age 10 (about 58%). However 11 percent of those under four who needed care had unmet need for dental care (i.e., could not get needed dental care in past year) compared to eight percent of all children who needed dental care. One in four (25%) children did not have any dental insurance.