Final answer:
The percentage of US infants and toddlers with Early Childhood Caries (ECC) can be estimated by calculating the mean of the percentage ranges provided. The midpoint of each range is taken and then averaged to give a rough estimation of the mean percentage of affected children.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percentage of US infants/toddlers with Early Childhood Caries (ECC) varies within a range. To estimate this percentage, one can review statistics on the prevalence of ECC among children under five years old. The condition ECC is characterized by the presence of one or more decayed, missing (due to decay), or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a child 71 months of age or younger. In the United States, a substantial number of infants and toddlers are affected by ECC. Variability in percentages occurs due to demographic factors such as socioeconomic status, access to dental care, and parental education.
Estimating the mean percentage of children with ECC can be calculated using the provided ranges. By adding the midpoint of each range together and dividing by the number of ranges, we get an approximate average. For instance, taking the midpoint of the first range, 16-21.45, we get approximately 18.725%. Applying this method to each range and then averaging those figures provides a rough estimation of the mean percentage of children with the condition. It is important to note that precise numbers may vary depending on the source and the population studied.