Periodontal Disease In Florida In 2004, among states/areas, the median estimated age-adjusted percentage of dentate adults with diabetes who had a dental visit during the preceding 12 months was 67% (range: 49.1%--83.3%. The lowest percentages was in Florida. One of the major complications of diabetes is periodontal disease (1), a chronic infection of tissues supporting the teeth and a major cause of tooth loss. Adults with diabetes have both a higher prevalence of periodontal disease and more severe forms of the disease (2), contributing to impaired quality of life and substantial oral functional disability (3). In addition, periodontal disease has been associated with development of glucose intolerance and poor glycemic control among adults with diabetes (4,5). Regular dental visits provide opportunities for prevention, early detection, and treatment of periodontal disease among dentate adults (i.e., those having one or more teeth); moreover, regular dental cleaning improves glycemic control in patients with poorly controlled diabetic conditions (6,7). One of the national health objectives for 2010 is to increase the proportion of persons with diabetes who have an annual dental examination to 71% (revised objective 5-15) (8). To estimate the percentage of dentate U.S. adults aged >18 years with diabetes who visited a dentist within the preceding 12 months, CDC analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys for 1999 and 2000. The age-adjusted estimated prevalence was significantly associated with race/ethnicity, education level, income level, smoking status, health insurance status, and having taken a course in diabetes management. Estimated percentages were lower among non-Hispanic blacks, persons with lower education and income, those who lacked health insurance, and those who had never taken a course or class in how to manage their diabetes.