Trends in Dental Utilization Among Young Children in the United States, 1996-2016.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine national trends and demographic associations with dental utilization among young children over 20 years (1996 to 2016). Methods: Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 1996 to 2016 was used to estimate nationally representative rates of dental utilization among children. Results: From 1996 to 2016, the largest relative increases in dental utilization were seen among zero- to one-year-olds (odds ratio equals 6.20) and two- to three-year-olds (odds ratio equals 2.15), whereas older age groups had smaller relative increases (all odds ratios equal less than 1.5). However, in 2016, only 5.3 percent of zero- to one-year-olds and 31.0 percent of two- to three-year-olds visited a dentist. Conclusion: Despite large relative increases in dental utilization among zero- to three-year-olds, a vast majority of these children do not visit a dentist, suggesting that guidelines on establishing a dental home by age one are not adequately implemented.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Central Germany: an underestimated risk.

PURPOSE: This is the first study to determine the cytomegalovirus (CMV) seronegativity rate for women of childbearing age in Saxony-Anhalt and to determine the prevalence of clinically relevant congenital CMV (cCMV) infection in Central Germany, because there are no valid data available. METHODS: The retrospective study was undertaken between January 2005 and December 2015. For the first time in Germany, the following seven data sources were used to analyze the prevalence of clinically relevant cCMV infection and the rate of CMV seronegative women of childbearing age: CMV Screening in maternity unit, University Women's Hospital, Social Paediatrics Centre (SPC), Malformation Monitoring Centre (MMC), Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and In-house Doctor Department. Key parameters were anti-CMV IgG and IgM, CMV PCR of urine, and clinically relevant symptoms caused by CMV. RESULTS: Between 46 and 52% of women of childbearing age were CMV seronegative. The prevalence of clinically relevant cCMV infection was between 0.008 and 0.04%. CONCLUSIONS: The CMV seronegativity rate of women of childbearing age was confirmed to be in the middle range of estimated data from other sources in Germany. Data from the NICU, SPC, NHS, and MMC show the prevalence of clinically relevant cCMV infection. The risk of all cCMV infections is underestimated. Thus, the true prevalence of clinically relevant and subclinical cCMV infections is >0.04%.