Table 17. Mean number of permanent teeth among dentate adults aged 65 years or older

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Mean number of permanent teeth among dentate adultsa 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 17

Oral Health Surveillance Report
Characteristic 2017–March 2020
%b SE
Total 20.9 0.27
Age (years)
  65–74 (reference) 21.7 0.37
  ≥75 19.8* 0.29
Sex
  Male (reference) 20.7 0.36
  Female 21.0 0.32
Race and ethnicity
  White, non-Hispanic (reference) 21.7 0.36
  Black, non-Hispanic 16.2* 0.53
  Mexican American 19.7* 0.66
Poverty statusc
  High poverty 15.9* 0.90
  Middle poverty 18.2* 0.50
  Low poverty (reference) 22.1 0.38
Poverty statusc
  High and middle poverty combined 17.6* 0.45
  Low poverty (reference) 22.1 0.38
Education
  <High school 16.8* 0.62
  High school 19.3* 0.57
  >High school (reference) 22.2 0.31
Cigarette smoking history
  Current 16.3* 1.05
  Former 20.2* 0.44
  Never (reference) 21.9 0.27

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 Includes older adults with at least one permanent tooth present.
b Weighted mean 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.