Oral health in general has improved significantly over the past several decades in all population subgroups. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities are still found in some population groups.
Time Since Last Dental Visit (Table 1)
- 23% of Seniors 65 and older have not been to the dentist in the last 5 years.
- About half of all Seniors 65 and older have been to the dentist within the past year.
- More Black and Hispanic Seniors and those with lower incomes and less education have not been to the dentist in the past 5 years.
- Seniors with higher incomes and more education are much more likely to have seen a dentist within the past year.
Perceived Condition of Teeth and Mouth (Table 2)
- 24% of Seniors 65 and older report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is excellent or very good.
- 16% all Seniors 65 and older report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is poor.
- More Black and Hispanic Seniors and those with lower incomes and less education report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is poor.
- Seniors with higher incomes and more education are much more likely to report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is very good or excellent.
Table 1 presents the amount of time since the last dental visit among Seniors Age 65 and older and for selected subgroups. Each number represents the percentage of subjects who visited their dentist within that time frame.
Table 2 presents the perceived (self-reported) condition of teeth and mouth among Seniors Age 65 and older and for selected subgroups. Each number represents the percentage subjects who perceived their own mouth in that condition.
Table 1: Seniors, Time Since Last Dental Visit
| Characteristic | Never Visited Dentist | 1 Year or Less Since Last Visit to Dentist |
1 to 2 Years Since Last Visit to Dentist |
2 to 3 Years Since Last Visit to Dentist |
3 to 5 Years Since Last Visit to Dentist |
More than 5 Years Since Last Visit to Dentist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: 65 to 74 years | - | 56.90 | 8.78 | 6.04 | 6.67 | 21.23 |
| Age: 75 or more years | - | 51.64 | 9.28 | 6.01 | 7.37 | 25.52 |
| Sex: Male | - | 56.15 | 8.40 | 5.71 | 6.37 | 23.04 |
| Sex: Female | - | 53.56 | 9.33 | 6.21 | 7.41 | 23.24 |
| Race and Ethnicity: White, non-Hispanic | - | 57.96 | 8.35 | 5.63 | 6.10 | 21.85 |
| Race and Ethnicity: Black, non-Hispanic | - | 37.99 | 13.45 | 5.59 | 11.28 | 30.59 |
| Race and Ethnicity: Mexican American | 4.12 | 38.31 | 9.92 | 9.25 | 9.32 | 29.08 |
| Poverty Status: Less than 100% FPL* | - | 30.23 | 9.39 | 7.48 | 13.14 | 38.82 |
| Poverty Status: 100% to 199% FPL* | - | 42.19 | 9.56 | 6.88 | 7.59 | 33.51 |
| Poverty Status: More than 100% FPL* | - | 67.08 | 8.86 | 4.49 | 4.85 | 14.22 |
| Education: Less than High School | - | 35.28 | 10.61 | 6.90 | 9.99 | 36.43 |
| Education: High School | - | 53.63 | 7.79 | 6.44 | 7.25 | 24.82 |
| Education: More than High School | - | 71.47 | 8.68 | 4.96 | 4.07 | 10.77 |
| Smoking Status: Current Smoker | - | 33.91 | 8.86 | 4.17 | 13.15 | 39.00 |
| Smoking Status: Former Smoker | - | 54.91 | 8.46 | 6.81 | 6.20 | 23.42 |
| Smoking Status: Never Smoked | - | 57.75 | 9.70 | 5.72 | 6.56 | 19.97 |
| Overall | - | 54.52 | 9.01 | 6.03 | 6.99 | 23.18 |
*FPL = Federal Poverty Level
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.
Table 1 presents the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding dental visits in Seniors.
Table 2: Seniors, Perceived Condition of Teeth and Mouth
| Characteristic | Excellent or Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: 65 to 74 years | 23.26 | 38.31 | 24.31 | 14.12 |
| Age: 75 or more years | 24.99 | 36.71 | 20.78 | 17.52 |
| Sex: Male | 22.58 | 37.35 | 23.79 | 16.28 |
| Sex: Female | 25.35 | 37.75 | 21.70 | 15.21 |
| Race and Ethnicity: White, non-Hispanic | 25.66 | 39.65 | 21.48 | 13.21 |
| Race and Ethnicity: Black, non-Hispanic | 13.40 | 25.36 | 28.29 | 32.95 |
| Race and Ethnicity: Mexican American | 9.20 | 23.85 | 34.45 | 32.50 |
| Poverty Status: Less than 100% FPL* | 8.18 | 23.97 | 29.43 | 38.42 |
| Poverty Status: 100% to 199% FPL | 20.92 | 30.07 | 28.63 | 20.39 |
| Poverty Status: More than 100% FPL | 26.91 | 42.73 | 19.25 | 11.11 |
| Education: Less than High School | 15.62 | 28.84 | 29.37 | 26.17 |
| Education: High School | 22.51 | 41.14 | 22.68 | 13.67 |
| Education: More than High School | 29.67 | 39.95 | 19.15 | 11.23 |
| Smoking Status: Current Smoker | 21.69 | 24.96 | 23.65 | 29.70 |
| Smoking Status: Former Smoker | 22.23 | 35.73 | 24.83 | 17.21 |
| Smoking Status: Never Smoked | 26.00 | 40.35 | 20.90 | 12.75 |
| Overall | 24.05 | 37.58 | 22.71 | 15.66 |
*FPL = Federal Poverty Level
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.
Table 1 presents the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding dental visits in Seniors.