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Oral Health Data and Surveillance

Oral Health Surveillance System

Monitoring the status of oral disease in a Minnesota’s population is essential for setting achievable objectives, as well as for planning, implementing, and evaluating public health programs.

Basic Screening Survey (BSS)

The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) Basic Screening Survey (BSS) is a standardized set of surveys designed to collect: a) information on the observed oral health of participants, b) self-reported or observed information on age, gender, race and Hispanic ethnicity, and c) self-reported information on access to care for preschool, school-age and adult populations. The surveys are cross-sectional and descriptive. Observations of oral health status are made by dentists, dental hygienists or other appropriate health care workers in accordance with state law. 

Minnesota will be coordinating efforts to conduct the BSS in specific populations to fulfill many requirements of the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS). 

More information about the BSS:

“At a Glance” Oral Health Indicators – Summary

“At-a-Glance” highlights twelve county-level oral health indicators. The indicators’ data sources and years collected vary. Combining or using one indicator’s numbers or percentages with another indicator’s could be misleading. For further details, please review the following PDF file: "At A Glance" 2010 Oral Health Indicators - Summary (PDF: 26KB/4 pages)

Oral Disease Burden Document

The Minnesota Oral Health Program needs to share information about Minnesota’s oral disease burden with policy makers, the public health community, and other stakeholders and interested parties.

An oral disease burden document describes the status of oral diseases (e.g., dental caries, periodontal disease, total tooth loss) in Minnesota, including any disparities in oral disease status among population groups. It also may discuss the ability of Minnesota’s programs to meet these needs by including a description of existing state oral health assets, such as professional dental and dental hygiene education programs and intervention programs that focus on preventing oral diseases.

This document will include current data, preferably no older than 5 years, and will include indicators consistent with the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS), Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS), and Synopses of State and Territorial Dental Public Health Programs (State Synopses).


Updated Friday, 13-Jul-2012 11:13:35 CDT