How many times do you skip a brushing session? Have all your kids made it to their biannual dental exams? Which disease most often goes untreated?

These are the kind of questions that are answered by dental statistics. Reading over statistics such as these is a great way to see where your dental habits measure up compared to others in your same location and age range. Peruse these dental statistics and see what they mean on a nationwide scale.

Statistics about Dental Visits

• 84.6% of children ages 2-17 have been to the dentist in the last year.
• 64.4% of adults aged 18-64 have been to the dentist in the last year.
• 64.3% of adults over 65 have been to the dentist in the last year.

Overall, these stats about how often people attend the dentist look pretty normal. Perhaps the most alarming aspect of these stats are the opposites. For example, the fact that 15.4% of children haven’t been to the dentist in the past year is disturbing because that dental negligence sets them up for failure. Also, 35% of adults who are skipping their dental appointments for a year are making themselves vulnerable to unwanted dental problems.

Statistics about the Presence of Cavities and Edentulism

• 91% of adults between ages 20-64 have cavities
• 96% of adults over age 65 have cavities
• 26% of adults over 75 have no teeth at all

Cavities, or dental caries as they’re also known, are the most common dental problem affecting kids and adults in America. These stats show exactly how shockingly common cavities are. With 91% of adults and 96% of those over 65 having cavities, it’s clear that they’re a threat to almost everyone’s dental health.

The frequency of edentulism late in life is shown in the last stat which states that about one-quarter of adults over age 75 have no teeth at all.

Statistics about Dental Implants

• Only 10% of dentists are qualified to perform implant dentistry
• Living without teeth can take 10 years off your life
• Dental implants last at least 20 years – dentures last only seven

These stats highlight various aspects of dental implants. First, it’s good for patients with missing teeth to realize that not every dentist is qualified to perform dental implant surgery – only 10% of them have had the training to do it.

The second point highlights the danger of living with missing teeth, showing that it can take a full decade off of your life.

Finally, longevity is one of the greatest strengths of dental implants. Unlike dentures which typically last seven years, dental implants are known to last more than 20 if properly cared for.

How Do Your Dental Habits Compare to those of Other Adults

Statistics are useful because they highlight the types of treatment that are most popular, conditions that are most common, and who is most affected by what type of issues. If you’re falling behind in some aspect of your dental health, then it’s never too late to make a change. Contact Dr. Fleming at Dentistry of Nashville and see what we can do for you today.