The comment above about "very few who didn't have dental caries........" and "This is a universal disorder" is no longer accurate. Dental caries is sequesterd in an increasingly smaller portion of our populations. The AHRQ data are relevant in lowers SES groups and as noted, at lower parental educational attainment levels. However, the statement that implies that this is a pandemic across all social strata is just inaccurate.The last NHANES study showed that 20% of the population has 60% of the cavities. Newer data show that concentration is increasing. For instance, one study shows that 10% of an insured population receives 65% of the restorations (a surrogate for cavities).