Dental Care Statistics

Many statistics about dental care are unsettling. According to the Centers for Disease Control, half of the adults in the United States have some form of gum disease, for example. While these number can be disconcerting, they also are a reminder of the importance of preventative dental care and restorative treatments.

At Chrisman & Wyse, Drs. Jay Chrisman and David Wyse provide general dentistry services, which include cleanings, exams, screenings, and periodontal treatments. To help you stay informed on trends shaping dental care in the United States, we compiled these statistics. Contact our Bloomington, IL practice to learn more.

Oral Health Statistics

The following data was released from the Centers for Disease Control.

• 18.6 percent of children ages five to 19 have untreated cavities.
• 31.6 percent of adults ages 20 to 44 have untreated cavities.
• 84.6 percent of children ages two to 17 saw a dentist in 2016.
• 64.4 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 saw a dentist in 2016.
• 64.3 percent of adults over the age of 65 saw a dentist in 2016.

Other statistics from the CDC include:

• Cavities are the most common disease in the United States.
• By age 34, more than 80 percent of the U.S. population will develop a cavity.
• Dental care costs in the United States averages around $124 billion each year.
• Lost productivity at work due to dental care costs about $6 billion per year.

Poor oral health has been linked to multiple chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Contact our Bloomington practice for a dental exam and complete treatment plan to improve your oral health.

Tooth Loss Statistics

The American College of Prosthodontics published these facts and figures:

• 15 percent of individuals who are missing an entire row of teeth have dentures made each year.
• More than 36 million Americans are completely edentulous (missing all teeth).
• Edentulism can be a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, nutritional deficiency, and other health problems.
• Decay, gum disease, injury, cancer, and bruxism are leading causes of tooth loss.
• 23 million geriatric individuals are edentulous.
• 90 percent of edentulous adults use dentures.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provided these statistics. A healthy adult has 32 natural teeth (including the wisdom teeth).

• Adults (ages 20 to 34) have 26.9 teeth remaining.
• Adults (ages 35 to 49) have 25.05 teeth remaining.
• Adults (ages 50 and 64) have 22.3 teeth remaining.

Gum Disease Statistics

The following information also comes from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

• 5 percent of adults ages 35 to 49 have moderate to severe periodontitis.
• 10.7 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 have moderate to severe periodontitis.
• The rate of moderate to severe periodontitis is nearly twice as high among men (6.74) as women (3.46)
• Adults who live at the poverty level experience advanced gum disease at a rate of 9.92 percent.
• Adults who live at twice the poverty level or higher experience advanced gum disease at a rate of 3.5 percent.
• A higher percentage of current smokers (11.14 percent) experience advanced gum disease than non-smokers (2.34 percent).

Contact Our Office Today

Gum disease, decay, and tooth loss are almost always preventable. By having twice-yearly dental visits and exams, our skilled doctors can catch cavities and other dental problems early, saving you time and discomfort down the road.

Contact our office online or call us in Bloomington at (309) 663-6393 to schedule an appointment today.