Overall, the prevalence of both partial and total tooth loss in adults has decreased from the early 1970s until the latest (1999-2004) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

Tables 1 and 2 present information about tooth loss for adults age 20 to 64 years and for selected population groups.

Number of Teeth Remaining (Table 1)

Adults age 20 to 64 have an average of 24.92 remaining teeth.

Older adults, Black adults, current smokers, and those with lower incomes and less education have fewer remaining teeth.

Number of Adults with Total Tooth Loss (Table 2)

3.75% of adults 20 to 64 have no remaining teeth

Older adults, Black and Hispanic adults, current smokers, and those with lower incomes and less education are more likely to have no remaining teeth.

Table 1: Adults, Mean Number of Permanent Teeth Remaining

Mean number of permanent teeth among adults age 20 to 64 years of age, by selected characteristics:

United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004 Characteristic Mean Number of Permanent Teeth 20 to 34 years 26.90 35 to 49 years 25.05 50 to 64 years 22.30 Male 25.06 Female 24.90 White, non-Hispanic 25.23 Black, non-Hispanic 23.68 Mexican American 25.32 Less than 100% income compared to Federal Poverty Level 23.52 100% to 199% income compared to Federal Poverty Level 23.64 Greater than 200% income compared to Federal Poverty Level 25.48 Less than High School Education 23.10 High School Education 24.35 More than High School Education 25.76 Current Smoker 23.47 Former Smoker 25.12 Never Smoked 25.67 Overall 24.98

Data Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been an important source of information on oral health and dental care in the United States since the early 1970s. Tables 1 and 2 present the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding tooth loss in adults.

Table 2: Adults, Number with No Remaining Teeth

Mean number of permanent teeth among adults age 20 to 64 years of age, by selected characteristics:

United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004 ​ ​ Characteristic Percentage with no Remaining Teeth 20 to 34 years (not enough data) 35 to 49 years 2.63 50 to 64 years 10.13 Male 3.79 Female 3.72 White, non-Hispanic 3.96 Black, non-Hispanic 4.14 Mexican American 1.51 Less than 100% income compared to Federal Poverty Level 9.28 100% to 199% income compared to Federal Poverty Level 6.48 Greater than 200% income compared to Federal Poverty Level 2.35 Less than High School Education 8.07 High School Education 5.41 More than High School Education 1.66 Current Smoker 7.79 Former Smoker 3.57 Never Smoked 1.55 Overall 3.76

Data Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been an important source of information on oral health and dental care in the United States since the early 1970s. Tables 1 and 2 present the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding tooth loss in adults.