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A new state report on the oral health of West Virginia school children says 42 percent of third graders have already experienced tooth decay.
The Department of Health and Human Resources also says 17 percent of the third graders had untreated cavities.
Only 29 percent of third graders had received a dental sealant, a thin coating considered effective in preventing tooth decay.
Dr. Jason Roush, the state's dental director, says West Virginia needs to continue looking for ways to improve early cavity prevention and educational programs for school children.
The data was collected during the 2010-11 school year and was submitted to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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