Tooth Loss in Adults (Age 20 to 64)

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

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 through 4 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

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 through 4 present the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding tooth loss in adults.