Table 13. Prevalence of untreated tooth decay in permanent teeth among dentate adults aged 65 years or older

About

Prevalence of untreated tooth decay in permanent teetha among dentate adults aged 65 years or older, by selected characteristics, United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2017–March 2020.

2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report—Table 13

Oral Health Surveillance Report
Characteristic 2017–March 2020
%b SE
Total 12.5 1.09
Age (years)
  65–74 (reference) 12.4 1.33
  ≥75 12.6 2.04
Sex
  Male (reference) 14.0 1.50
  Female 11.2 1.20
Race and ethnicity
  White, non-Hispanic (reference) 9.3 1.21
  Black, non-Hispanic 28.4* 2.58
  Mexican American 24.0* 6.64
Poverty statusc
  High poverty 28.7* 3.45
  Middle poverty 19.4* 2.62
  Low poverty (reference) 7.9 0.86
Poverty statusc
  High and middle poverty combined 21.5* 2.40
  Low poverty (reference) 7.9 0.86
Education
  <High school 20.0* 3.36
  High school 14.9* 2.04
  >High school (reference) 10.2 0.97
Cigarette smoking history
  Current 27.6* 6.36
  Former 13.9 2.35
  Never (reference) 9.7 0.94

Note: All estimates are adjusted by age (5-year groups; maximum age group is ≤80 years) 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. 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 having one or more untreated decayed permanent teeth among older adults with at least one permanent tooth.
b Weighted prevalence estimates.
c 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.