Dental Facts And Statistics In 2024 (2024)

Oral diseases impact nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide, with three out of four individuals residing in middle-income countries, according to the 2022 WHO Global Oral Health Status Report. While many types of dental diseases exist, some of the most common dental issues include gum disease and tooth decay. The WHO estimates that approximately 2 billion adults experience cavities in permanent teeth, while 514 million children experience primary (baby) teeth cavities.^[4]Oral health. World Health Organization. Accessed 5/21/2024.

As of 2020, 13.3% of U.S. adults 65 and older have lost all of their teeth because of tooth decay or gum disease, per data from the CDC^[5]Oral Health Data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 5/22/2024. .

How Many People Have Cavities?

Tooth decay, also known as cavities, are more common than people might think. In fact, over 90% of adults over 20 have experienced a cavity^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. , with 82% of individuals having experienced at least one cavity by age 34^[6]Dental Caries (Tooth Decay) in Adults (Ages 20 to 64 Years). National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Accessed 5/22/2024. .

Among children ages 6 to 8, more than half (52%) have had a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth, while more than half of adolescents ages 12 to 19 (57%) have had cavities in at least one of their permanent teeth, according to the CDC^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. .

Despite the prevalence of cavities, they are often left untreated: One-quarter of adults ages 20 to 64 have at least one untreated cavity^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. , and nearly 11% of children ages 2 to 5 have untreated cavities^[7]QuickStats: Prevalence of Untreated Dental Caries in Primary Teeth Among Children Aged 2–8 Years, by Age Group and Race/Hispanic Origin. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 5/22/2024. . It’s important to treat cavities when possible, as they can cause pain and infections, leading to issues with eating, speaking, playing and learning in children.

Dental Sealants Prevent 80% of Cavities

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars). While all children can benefit from dental sealants, the CDC recommends getting dental sealant around the ages of 6 and 12, when the first and second molars come in, respectively.

This treatment can help prevent 80% of cavities for over two years in the back teeth and continue to prevent 50% of cavities for up to four years^[8]Preventing Dental Caries: School-based Dental Sealant Delivery Programs. Community Preventive Services Task Force. Accessed 5/22/2024. . Despite the efficacy of dental sealants, less than half of children (42%) and adolescents (48%) have dental sealants on permanent teeth, according to the CDC^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. .

How Common Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is an overarching term for conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis, which involves inflammation or infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth. It’s the leading cause of tooth loss among adults, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Approximately 47% of adults ages 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. That number jumps to 70% for adults 65 years and older, according to a 2013 report from the CDC^[9]Thornton-Evans G, Eke P, Wei L, et al. Periodontitis among adults aged ≥30 years - United States, 2009-2010. MMWR Suppl. 2013;62(3):129-135. .

While most people experience periodontal disease at some point in their lives, the CDC reports that the condition is more common in the following individuals 30 years and older^[9]Thornton-Evans G, Eke P, Wei L, et al. Periodontitis among adults aged ≥30 years - United States, 2009-2010. MMWR Suppl. 2013;62(3):129-135. :

• Men more commonly experience periodontal disease (56%) than women (38%)
• Individuals living below the federal poverty level (65%)
• People with less than a high school education (67%)
• Current smokers (64%)

In 2020, nearly 65% of Americans reported going to a dentist or dental clinic within the past year, according to CDC data^[5]Oral Health Data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 5/22/2024. . Meanwhile, a Forbes Advisor/Talker Research survey from March 2024 found that 38% of respondents are at least somewhat scared of the dentist^[10]Social Media Causes 72% Of Gen Z To Compare Their Smiles To Others. Forbes Health. Accessed 5/29/2024. .

Which States Most Commonly Go to the Dentist?

In 2020, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Utah had the highest rates of people attending dental appointments, per the CDC^[5]Oral Health Data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 5/22/2024. .

Meanwhile, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, Mississippi and West Virginia had the lowest rates of people visiting the dentist^[5]Oral Health Data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 5/22/2024. .

How Many People Have Braces or Orthodontic Work?

Four million people in the U.S. either need or already wear braces and 65% of adults don’t have well-aligned teeth, according to the American Association of Orthodontists^[11]The American Association of Orthodontists. Accessed 5/22/2024. . Considering the amount of teeth-straightening products on the market, some individuals may feel a societal push to pursue cosmetic dental work, suggests the results of a recent Forbes Health/Talker Research survey.

To better understand this dynamic, the Forbes Health/Talker Research survey also explored how social media contributes to the pressures of achieving a perfect smile. For respondents who felt pressure from social media to change their smiles, they reported considering the following orthodontic work:

• Aligners fitted at a dentist, like Invisalign (29%)^[10]Social Media Causes 72% Of Gen Z To Compare Their Smiles To Others. Forbes Health. Accessed 5/29/2024.
• At-home aligners (27%)^[10]Social Media Causes 72% Of Gen Z To Compare Their Smiles To Others. Forbes Health. Accessed 5/29/2024.
• Braces or other orthodontic treatment at a dentist (26%)^[10]Social Media Causes 72% Of Gen Z To Compare Their Smiles To Others. Forbes Health. Accessed 5/29/2024.

Oral health problems can increase the risk of certain diseases, like endocarditis, which is an infection of the inner lining of the heart’s chambers or valves. Research suggests that mouth bacteria can enter an individual’s bloodstream and infect other parts of the body, causing inflammation that may lead to heart disease and more^[12]Bumm CV, Folwaczny M. Infective endocarditis and oral health-a Narrative Review. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(6):1403-1415. .

Research indicates that tooth loss, in particular, may be associated with a shorter lifespan. For example, one 2015 study in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology found that individuals over the age of 70 who had at least 20 teeth lived longer than those with fewer than 20 teeth, suggesting that the number of remaining teeth a person had was significantly associated with their risk of mortality^[13]Hirotomi T, Yoshihara A, Ogawa H, et al. Number of teeth and 5-year mortality in an elderly population. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2015;43(3):226-231. .

Tooth loss can also have a psychological impact, as one 2020 review of eight studies found that tooth loss led to reduced self-confidence and increased emotional distress in individuals who had fewer than nine remaining teeth^[14]Kudsi Z, Fenlon MR, Johal A, et al. Assessment of Psychological Disturbance in Patients with Tooth Loss: A Systematic Review of Assessment Tools. J Prosthodont. 2020;29(3):193-200. .

Dental Health and Diabetes

The CDC also points to data that exhibits a correlation between dental health and diabetes:

• Adults 20 or older with diabetes are 40% more likely to have untreated cavities than adults in a similar demographic without diabetes^[15]Wei L, Griffin SO, Parker M, Thornton-Evans G. Dental health status, use, and insurance coverage among adults with chronic conditions: implications for medical-dental integration in the United States. J Am Dent Assoc. 2022;153(6):563–571. .
• There’s a correlation between having diabetes and gum disease, which is a leading cause of tooth loss^[16]Sanz M, Ceriello A, Buysschaert M, et al. Scientific evidence on the links between periodontal diseases and diabetes: Consensus report and guidelines of the joint workshop on periodontal diseases and diabetes by the International Diabetes Federation and the European Federation of Periodontology. J Clin Periodontol. 2018;45(2):138–149. .
• 60% of U.S. adults with diabetes attended a medical visit in the past year, but not a dental visit^[15]Wei L, Griffin SO, Parker M, Thornton-Evans G. Dental health status, use, and insurance coverage among adults with chronic conditions: implications for medical-dental integration in the United States. J Am Dent Assoc. 2022;153(6):563–571. .

Dental Health and Cardiovascular Disease

Some research indicates that the inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria might be connected to heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke. However, further research is needed to fully understand those relationships.

People with gum disease, on the other hand, are at a higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other serious cardiovascular event, according to research.

Dental Health and Pneumonia

Certain germs from the mouth and throat can travel into the lungs, potentially causing pneumonia and other respiratory infections. What’s more, one 2023 study found that individuals with periodontal disease may have a higher risk of certain chronic respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)^[17]Lin P, Liu A, Tsuchiya Y, et al. Association between periodontal disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2023;59:389-402. . However, at least one preventative dental visit within three years may reduce the risk of ventilator-acquired pneumonia by as much as 22%, according to 2020 research from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health^[18]Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2023;59:389-402. The Link Between Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and the Mouth. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Accessed 5/22/2024. .

The Effects of Smoking on Your Dental Health

Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and other forms of tobacco can increase the risk of oral cancer, gum disease and other oral health conditions. People who smoke cigarettes are also more likely to have untreated tooth decay, according to data from the CDC^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. .

• Over 40% of cigarette smokers ages 20 to 64 have untreated tooth decay^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. .
• Cigarette smokers 65 or older are twice as likely to have untreated tooth decay than individuals who never smoke^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. .
• Approximately 43% of cigarette smokers ages 65 or older have lost all of their teeth^[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2019. .

Oral Cancer

Across the board, 11.5 adults per 100,000 will develop oral cancer, according to a National Cancer Survey from 2015 to 2019^[19]Oral Cancer Incidence (New Cases) by Age, Race, and Gender. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Accessed 5/22/2024. . The data determined that oral cancer incidence rates are three times higher for males of all ages than females. However, the incidence of oral cancer heightens after 50, especially for individuals 65 years and older.

When examining race, oral cancer incidence rates were higher for white males than for Hispanic and Black males, per survey results.

Despite the beneficial and often critical nature of dental care, many individuals find the associated costs prohibitive. Over the past 20 years, dental care costs per person in the U.S. have grown by 30%. Additionally, more than one in four working-age adults live without dental insurance, per data from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research^[20]Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Accessed 5/22/2024. .

In 2018, the dentally uninsured rate was 2.5 times higher than the medically uninsured rate, leaving about 66.7 million Americans without dental coverage, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. That same year, the annual costs for dental care in the U.S. were $136 billion, making up 3.7% of the country’s total health care spending.^[20]Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Accessed 5/22/2024.

Meanwhile, in 2017, 2.1 million emergency room visits were dental-related. Medicaid covers approximately 69% of those visits for children and about 40% for adults, per the Health Policy Institute^[21]Emergency Department Visits for Dental Conditions – A Snapshot. Health Policy Institute. Accessed 5/22/2024. .

Emergency dental care and untreated dental issues not only cost money, but also time and productivity. Unplanned dental care accounts for about 34 million lost school hours a year^[22]Naavaal S, Kelekar U. School hours lost due to acute/unplanned dental care. Health Behav Policy Rev. 2018;5(2);66–73. . What’s more, the U.S. loses about $45 billion in productivity annually because of untreated dental disease^[23]The Hour of Need: Productivity Time Lost Due to Urgent Dental Needs. CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Accessed 5/29/2024. .

Dental issues also impact Americans’ job prospects. About 28% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 34 say the appearance of their teeth or mouth conflicts with their ability to interview for roles. For individuals in low-income households, that percentage jumps to 29%, according to 2015 Health Policy Institute data. ^[24]Oral Health and Well-Being in the United States. Health Policy Institute. Accessed 5/22/2024.

Along with yearly dental appointments, the CDC recommends the following daily habits for promoting good oral health:

• Avoid sugary food and drinks when possible.
• Drink fluoridated tap water and opt for fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush your teeth twice a day and use floss to remove dental plaque.
• Wear a mouthguard when playing sports or participating in high-risk activities.

Many people struggle maintaining healthy hygiene habits, but taking small steps to improve oral health can have significant impacts on overall wellness.