Among older adults there has been significant improvement in tooth retention over the past 20 years. More older adults are retaining most or all their teeth, and fewer older adults have lost all their teeth (edentulism). Affordability and access to care remain the most significant barriers to tooth retention, as poor adults are much more likely to lack functional dentition than nonpoor adults.
Among adults 65 and older, edentulism (the loss of all natural teeth) decreased from about 32% to 17% over the past 20 years.
Among those 75 and older, edentulism declined from about 38% to 22% overall over the past 20 years.
The number of older adults aged 65 to 74 retaining complete dentition has doubled since the year 2000 from about 8% to 17%.
Among adults aged 65 to 74 living in poverty, only 31% have functional dentition (at least 21 teeth), compared to 74% of nonpoor older adults.
A circular graphic depicting the older adult statistics.