The survey was conducted during the 1999–2000 school year. The sampling frame for the survey consisted of a list of all public elementary schools provided by the State Department of Education. Enrollment figures were used to define two strata—counties with 3,000 or more elementary school students and counties with less than 3,000 students. In counties with 3,000 or more elementary school students, a 1 of 10 random sample of schools was drawn. In counties with less than 3,000 students, two schools per county were randomly selected. All 3rd grade students within a school were eligible to participate if they returned a positive consent form. The diagnostic criteria were comparable to ASTDD’s 1999 Basic Screening Survey. The data were weighted to account for the survey design. Of the students selected, 47% responded. The estimates were not adjusted for nonresponse.

For more information about this survey, contact:

Ron Romero, DDS, MPH
Dental Director
New Mexico Department of Health
PHD/HSB/Office of Dental Health
1199 St. Francis Drive
Sante Fe, NM 87505
Telephone: 505-476-8924
Fax: 505-476-8932
E-mail: ronr@doh.state.nm.us