Tooth Loss in Adults (Age 20 to 64)

Overall, the prevalence of both partial and total tooth loss in U.S. adults has decreased from the early 1970s until the latest cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) oral health examination (2017–March 2020). Despite this improvement, significant health disparities in tooth loss remain in some population groups.

Tables 1 and 2 present information about tooth loss for adults age 20 to 64 years and for selected population groups in the United States.

Number of Teeth Remaining  (Table 1)

• Adults 20 to 64 years have an average of 26 remaining teeth (from average of 32).
• Older adults, non-Hispanic Black adults, adults who currently smoke or previously smoked cigarettes, and those with high poverty status and education have statistically significantly fewer remaining teeth.

Percentage of Adults with Total Tooth Loss (Table 2)

• About 2% of adults 20 to 64 years have no remaining natural teeth.
• Adults who currently smoke or previously smoked cigarettes and those with low income and education are statistically significantly more likely to have tooth loss.

Table 1: Adults, Mean Number of Permanent Teeth Remaining

Note: All estimates are adjusted by age (5-year groups) to the U.S. 2000 standard population. Estimates are based on all U.S. race and ethnicity groups, except the estimates for specific race and ethnicity categories. NR = Not reported because the sample size is <30 or the standard error is >30% of the point estimate value. SE = standard error. Reference groups were used to test for statistical differences within sociodemographic characteristics.

* P <0.05 based on t-test for differences against the reference group.

^a Defined as the percentage of family income relative to the federal poverty level (FPL). High poverty = <100% FPL; middle poverty = 100%–199% FPL; high or middle poverty combined = <200% FPL; and low poverty = ≥200% FPL.

The 2017–March 2020 cycle was partially disrupted by COVID-19; data were released as a combined pre-pandemic dataset and may not be directly comparable to earlier continuous NHANES cycles.

Table 2: Adults, Percentage with No Remaining Teeth

* Not enough data

Note: All estimates are adjusted by age (5-year groups) to the U.S. 2000 standard population. Estimates are based on all U.S. race and ethnicity groups, except the estimates for specific race and ethnicity categories. NR = Not reported because the sample size is <30 or the standard error is >30% of the point estimate value. SE = standard error. Reference groups were used to test for statistical differences within sociodemographic characteristics.

* P <0.05 based on t-test for differences against the reference group.

^a Defined as the percentage of family income relative to the federal poverty level (FPL). High poverty = <100% FPL; middle poverty = 100%–199% FPL; high or middle poverty combined = <200% FPL; and low poverty = ≥200% FPL.

The 2017–March 2020 cycle was partially disrupted by COVID-19; data were released as a combined pre-pandemic dataset and may not be directly comparable to earlier continuous NHANES cycles.

Data Sources: 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. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2019

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Dental Caries, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 2017–March 2020. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2024. [Accessed Date].