Oral Health Facts and Statistics

Oral Health Facts and Statistics

Oral health is improving around the world, but there are still some shocking numbers that demonstrate there is more work to be done in informing and educating individuals on how to properly take care of their teeth. Here are some interesting facts and statistics about oral health:

• Periodontal disease — Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is extremely common. It affects nearly half — 47% to be exact– of the entire U.S. over-30 population.
• Most common dental health problem seen by family dentists — Almost everyone will suffer from tooth decay, aka, cavities, at some point in their life. Fully 92% of adults have had cavities, and 26% have untreated cavities right now. Compared to other common medical issues, tooth decay is actually five times more common than childhood asthma and 20 times more common than diabetes.
• Tooth replacements — Roughly 15 million people in the U.S. have crown and bridge replacements for their missing teeth, while 15% of the entire toothless population has new dentures made each year.
• The importance of family dentistry — Aside from the health and hygiene benefits, regular trips to the dentist can improve a person’s overall appearance and well being. About 96% of people think an attractive smile makes them more appealing to potential romantic partners. Yet roughly 18% of people admit to hiding their own teeth while posing for photos. Today, simple cosmetic dental procedures help can improve anyone’s smile.
• Children and cavities – Children’s diets tend to include more sugar and sticky type carbohydrates (ie cookies, crackers etc) and as a result they are more prone to dental issues. By the time children reach kindergarten, more than 40% of kids have cavities.
• strong>Child dental issues and other health problems — Children with bad teeth and oral issues are roughly three times more likely to miss school because of a toothache or dental related pain, according to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation.
• Periodontal disease and age — Gum disease and general oral issues tend to increase as a person grows older. Wholly 70.1% of adults 65 years and older currently gave gum disease.
• People wait too long before visiting their dentist — Although it’s recommended to go much more often, on average, people wait about three years before their next dental appointment.
• Most common restorative dental procedure — The most common restorative procedure is the single crown. There are approximately 2.3 million implant-supported crowns created every year.

Hopefully being aware of this information and the challenges associated with dental/oral health care can motivate you to take the necessary steps of caring for your own teeth properly.

If you have any questions and are located in the Las Vegas area, please contact Hudson Family Dental to schedule an appointment.