Data Resource Center
Code library

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Oral health questions asked each year

Table of questions asked in each year

Years oral health questions were asked, section of core questionnaire or module and links to questions for each year. (Click a year to see all the questions for one year.)

1 Question wording changed.  “How long has it been since you last visited the dentist or a dental clinic?” 1999–2004:  added “for any reason.  Include visits to dental specialists, such as orthodontists.”

2 Coding changed:

        1  Within the past year  (1 to 12 months ago),  2001-2004: "anytime less than 12 months ago"

        2  Within the past 2 years  (1 to 2 years ago),  2001-2004: "1 year but less than 2 years ago"

        3  Within the past 5 years  (2 to 5 years ago),  2001-2004: "2 years but less than 5 years ago"

3 Question instructions changed.  How many of your permanent teeth have been removed because of tooth decay or gum disease?  Do not include teeth lost for other reasons, such as injury or orthodontics?

1999-2004: added “Include teeth lost due to “infection”

4 Changed response for code 1 = "5 or fewer".  2000–2004:  response changed to "1 to 5"

5 Question instructions changed.  2003 added:  "If wisdom teeth are removed because of tooth decay or gum disease, they should be included in the count for lost teeth."

This content was abstracted from questionnaires published on the BRFSS Web site http://www.cdc.gov/brfss.