Which statement accurately reflects the data on caries prevalence among 5-17-year-olds and 17-year-olds?

• A. 5-9 year olds: 50% with a carious lesion or restoration
• B. 17-year-olds: 80% with caries by age 17
• C. Both A and B
• D. Neither A nor B

Answer: (C)

The data show that caries experience accumulates with age. In many populations, about half of children in the 5–9 age range have had a carious lesion or have required a restoration, reflecting a substantial early burden of decay. As kids grow into adolescence, the likelihood of having had caries increases, and by age 17 a large majority—roughly around 80%—have experienced caries at some point in their lives. This pattern—a notable early prevalence and a high cumulative prevalence by late adolescence—fits what the statements describe, making them both accurate representations of typical caries prevalence data. Keep in mind measurements can vary by population and study method, but the general trend remains consistent.