Dental Care Statistics
Professional dental care is a huge asset when it comes to preserving dental health and maintaining the beauty of the smile. General dentistry services can prevent serious dental complications, while restorative dentistry treatments address dental problems that develop. While many people recognize the benefits of professional dental care, there are still many others that neglect oral health altogether.
At the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute, our team of experienced dentists encourage a lifetime of good oral hygiene habits, which includes routine dental exams and cleanings. Individuals who wonder just how important oral health really is can read these dental care statistics. To learn more, contact our Troy, MI practice.
Dental caries, which is the medical term for tooth decay or dental cavities, is one of the leading causes of oral health problems. Dental caries develop when bacteria accumulate on the teeth and damage healthy tooth enamel.
When minor cases of tooth decay are treated early on, they do not cause significant damage. Unfortunately, data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that dental caries often go untreated.
- Just over 13 percent of surveyed children between the ages of six and 19 had untreated dental caries in their permanent teeth
- Among children aged six to 11, around six percent had untreated dental caries
- For adolescents aged 16 to 19, the percentage with untreated dental caries jumped to nearly 23 percent
- 27 percent of adults aged 20 to 64 had untreated tooth decay
The longer that dental decay goes untreated, the more likely it is to lead to more serious dental complications, such as tooth loss. Data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that tooth loss is a much more common concern than most people imagine.
- Just 48 percent of surveyed adults between the ages of 20 and 64 had their full set of permanent teeth
- Tooth loss was the biggest concern among participants aged 40 to 64 (only 34 percent of this group still had all their permanent teeth)
- Around 17 percent of surveyed individuals aged 65 and older had lost all of their permanent teeth
Professional dental care can prevent many of the most serious dental problems. This is why it is hard for many to understand why dental caries and tooth loss are so prevalent.
The problem is that many people do not take advantage of professional dental services.
The CDC reports that in 2010, 64.7 percent of surveyed individuals aged two and older reported having been to a dentist within the past year. That still leaves a lot of individuals without professional dental care.
Fortunately, the percentage of individuals who reported seeing a dentist in 2016 was 68.7, so the number appears to be on the rise. If that number continues to see an upward trend, numbers of untreated dental caries and tooth loss should begin to decrease.
If you’d like to hear how professional dental care can benefit the health and beauty of your smile, contact us at your earliest convenience. The experienced dentists at the Cosmetic Dentistry Institute can help you achieve all your oral health goals. To learn more, call us at (248) 519-1919.