Complete Tooth Loss Among Older Adults Fell, 1999–2018

Losing every natural, permanent tooth — complete tooth loss — became much less common among older Americans over two decades, according to a CDC QuickStats chart drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

CDC chart from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The findings

• Overall: the age-adjusted prevalence of complete tooth loss among adults aged 65 or older fell from 29.3% in 1999–2000 to 12.6% in 2017–2018.
• Lower incomes: among adults living below 200% of the federal poverty level, it fell from 42.1% to 23.5% over the same period.
• Higher incomes: among adults at or above 200% of the poverty level, it fell from 17.7% to 8.5%.

In every survey period, complete tooth loss was more common among older adults in the lower-income group.

How the figures were calculated

Estimates were age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Census population using three age groups: 65–69, 70–74, and 75 and older. A family's poverty level was found by dividing its income by the poverty threshold for its family size, using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines.

Sources

• Eleanor Fleming, Joseph Afful and Deanna Kruszon-Moran, "QuickStats: Prevalence of Complete Tooth Loss Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years, by Federal Poverty Level — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 1999–2018," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937a8.htm
• The report cites the NCHS data brief "Prevalence of tooth loss among older adults: United States, 2015–2018" (no. 368) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.