How Common Is Tooth Loss? Tooth Loss Statistics
Accidents, genetic disorders, and poor oral hygiene are all common causes of tooth loss in the United States. If you are missing one or more teeth, Doctors Joseph Perry and Thomas Shields offer several restorative dentistry treatments that can replace missing teeth. Our doctors and skilled staff have the knowledge and advanced tools to rebuild your smile.
At River City Dental Solutions in San Antonio, TX, we want our patients to be well informed about tooth loss, so we compiled this overview of tooth loss statistics.
A Look at Tooth Loss in the United States
Age is a leading risk factor for tooth loss. As we age, hormonal changes result in lower jawbone density. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research compiled these statistics:
- Adults ages 20 to 34 have an average of 26.9 of their original 32 teeth remaining.
- Between the ages of 35 to 49, adults have an average of 25.05 teeth remaining.
- Individuals between 50 and 64 have an average of 22.3 teeth remaining.
Note that these figures include the four wisdom teeth, which are often removed in a patient’s teens or early 20s.
The American College of Prosthodontics provided these facts and figures:
- Around 15 percent of edentulous individuals have dentures made each year.
- Edentulism is a risk factor for nutritional deficiency, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.
- More than 36 million Americans are missing all of their teeth.
- 120 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth.
- Tooth loss is commonly the result of decay, advanced gum disease, injury, cancer, and normal wear.
- Edentulism disproportionately affects the elderly and economically disadvantaged individuals.
- Among the geriatric population, 23 million are completely edentulous while 12 million individuals are missing one row of teeth.
- The vast majority (90 percent) of individuals who are toothless use dentures.
What Are Common Causes of Tooth Loss?
Besides advanced age, decay is one leading cause of tooth loss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 20 percent of adults over 65 have untreated tooth decay, while 91 percent of adults ages 20 to 64 have had a cavity at some point in their life.
Other causes of tooth loss include:
- Poor oral hygiene: Most Americans do not floss daily.
- Periodontitis: The CDC estimates that around half of adults in the United States have gum disease.
- Lack of Dental Insurance: Around 74 million Americans have no dental coverage, according to the National Association of Dental Plans.
How Can I Restore a Lost Tooth?
Once one of our dentists in San Antonio establishes your candidacy for restorative treatment, you can benefit from one or more of these procedures.
- Dental bridge: A dental bridge is a prosthetic that “bridges” the gap left by a missing tooth. The bridge can be affixed to neighboring natural teeth or through the use of a dental implant.
- Dental crown: Crowns (artificial teeth) can be placed on a dental implant to restore missing teeth.
- Dental implant: Dental implants are surgical grade screws that are placed in the jawbone to provide support for crowns, bridges, or dentures.
- Dentures: Full dentures replace an entire row of teeth while partial dentures replace multiple neighboring teeth.
Contact Our Office Today
A missing tooth does not have to be a long-term setback. During your consultation with one of our doctors, you will be provided with multiple treatment plans to replace your missing teeth. Our doctors are highly experienced and focus on providing comprehensive, individualized care. To schedule your first appointment, contact us online or call (210) 349-3745 in San Antonio.