At a glance
This page provides a summary of CDC's latest findings on the prevalence and severity of tooth decay in primary and permanent teeth, as well as the prevalence of tooth retention and edentulism (tooth loss).
Prevalence and Severity of Tooth Decay in Primary Teeth
More than 1 in 10 children aged 2–5 years had at least one untreated cavity in their baby teeth. By age 6–8 years, it was nearly 1 in 5 children.
- About 11% of children aged 2–5 years had one or more primary teeth with untreated decay (Table 1). Mexican American children had a higher prevalence of untreated tooth decay (18.5%) than non-Hispanic White children (8.1%). Children in the high poverty group (18.0%) had a higher prevalence of untreated tooth decay than children in the low poverty group (6.6%).
- Children aged 2–5 years with one or more decayed or filled primary teeth (dft) had, on average, 1.8 decayed teeth (dt) and 2.6 filled teeth (ft) (Table 2). The mean number of decayed primary teeth was 2.2 in the high poverty group and 1.6 in the low poverty group. Female (3.2) and Mexican American (3.9) children had the highest mean number of filled primary teeth.
- Nearly 18% of children aged 6–8 years had one or more primary teeth with untreated decay (Table 3). The prevalence in the high poverty (24.6%) and middle poverty (24.8%) groups was more than double the prevalence in the low poverty group (11.6%).
- Children aged 6–8 years with one or more decayed or filled primary teeth (dft) had, on average, 0.9 decayed teeth (dt) and 3.2 filled teeth (ft) (Table 4). The mean number of decayed primary teeth was one or less across all sociodemographic characteristics. Mexican American children had the highest mean number of filled teeth (4.2).
Prevalence of Tooth Decay in Primary and Permanent Teeth
Half of all children aged 6–9 years have had cavities in their primary or permanent teeth.
- Nearly 17% of children aged 6–9 years had one or more primary or permanent teeth with untreated decay (Table 5). Children in the high poverty (26.3%) and middle poverty (23.4%) groups were more than twice as likely to have untreated decay than those in the low poverty group (10%).
- About 50% of children aged 6–9 had one or more decayed, filled, or missing primary or permanent teeth (Table 6). Mexican American children (70.3%) and those in the high poverty (59.9%) and middle poverty (61.4%) groups had a higher prevalence than non-Hispanic White children (43.4%) and children in the low poverty group (40.5%).
Prevalence and Severity of Tooth Decay in Permanent Teeth
One in 10 adolescents aged 12–19 years had at least one untreated cavity in their permanent teeth. One in 5 adults aged 20–64 years had at least one untreated cavity. Levels of untreated cavities are higher for some groups because of factors such as race and ethnicity, income level, and smoking status.
- Nearly 3% of children aged 6–11 years had one or more permanent teeth with untreated decay (Table 7). Those with one or more decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT >0) had, on average, 0.3 decayed teeth (DT) and 1.6 filled teeth (FT) (Table 8). The mean number of filled teeth ranged from 1.4 to 1.9 teeth across all sociodemographic characteristics.
- About 10% of adolescents aged 12–19 years had one or more permanent teeth with untreated decay (Table 9). The prevalence was higher among older adolescents (16–19 years, 12.1%) than younger adolescents (12–15 years, 8.6%). The prevalence was higher in the high poverty and middle poverty groups combined (13.2%) than in the low poverty group (8.2%).
- Adolescents aged 12–19 years with one or more decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT >0) had, on average, 0.4 decayed teeth (DT) and 3.7 filled teeth (FT) (Table 10). The mean number of decayed teeth remained at or below 0.6 across all sociodemographic characteristics. The mean number of filled teeth was higher among older adolescents (aged 16–19 years, 4.4) and Mexican American adolescents (4.3) than among their respective reference groups.
- Nearly 21% of adults aged 20–64 years had one or more permanent teeth with untreated decay (Table 11). The prevalence was lower in the 50–64 age group (17.3%) compared to the two younger age groups (21–34 years, 21.8%; 35–49 years, 21.4%). It was higher among those who were male (22.8%), were non-Hispanic Black (30.3%), were in the high poverty (39.6%) or middle poverty (30.9%) group, had a high school education (30.2%) or less (39.1%), and were current smokers (41.4%) than among their respective reference groups.
- Adults aged 20–64 years with one or more decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT >0) had, on average, 0.7 decayed teeth (DT), 6.0 filled teeth (FT), and 2.0 missing teeth due to disease (MT) (Table 12).
- The highest mean number of decayed teeth was among current smokers (1.5), followed by those in the high poverty group (1.4) and those with less than a high school education (1.3).
- The mean number of filled teeth increased with age, from 4.8 at 20–34 years to 7.5 at 50–64 years. Females (6.4), non-Hispanic White adults (6.4), those in the low poverty group (6.4), those with more than a high school education (6.4), and never smokers (6.4) had the highest mean number of filled teeth.
- The mean number of missing teeth increased with age, from 0.7 teeth at 20–34 years to 3.8 teeth at 50–64 years. Non-Hispanic Black adults (2.9), those in the high poverty group (3.3), those with less than a high school education (3.6), and current smokers (3.9) had higher mean numbers of missing teeth than their respective reference groups.
- The highest mean number of decayed teeth was among current smokers (1.5), followed by those in the high poverty group (1.4) and those with less than a high school education (1.3).
- Nearly 13% of adults aged 65 years or older had one or more permanent teeth with untreated decay (Table 13). Prevalence was 2 to 3 times higher among non-Hispanic Black adults (28.4%), Mexican American adults (24.0%), those in the high poverty (28.7%) or middle poverty (19.4%) group, those with less than a high school education (20.0%), and current smokers (27.6%) than among their respective reference groups.
- Adults aged 65 years or older had, on average, 0.2 decayed teeth (DT), 9.3 filled teeth (FT), and 6.4 missing teeth due to disease (MT) (Table 14).
- The mean number of teeth with untreated decay was less than one tooth across all sociodemographic characteristics.
- The highest mean number of filled teeth was in older adults who were non-Hispanic White (10.4), were in the low poverty group (10.4), had more than a high school education (10.4), were 75 years or older (9.7), and were never smokers (9.7).
- The mean number of missing teeth increased with age, from 5.6 at 60–74 years to 7.4 at 75 years or older. The mean number of missing teeth was highest among older adults in the high poverty group (11.2), followed by those who were non-Hispanic Black (10.6), had less than a high school education (10.6), and were current smokers (10.4).
- The mean number of teeth with untreated decay was less than one tooth across all sociodemographic characteristics.
Tooth Retention and Edentulism
More than 1 in 10 adults aged 65–74 years had lost all their teeth. Nearly 1 in 5 adults aged 75 years or older had lost all their teeth.
- The mean number of permanent teeth decreased with age, from 27 teeth at 20–34 years to 23.3 at 50–64 years, 21.7 at 65–74 years, and 19.8 at 75 years or older (Tables 15 and 17). Among adults 65 years or older (Table 17), the mean number of teeth was lower among those who were non-Hispanic Black (16.2), were in the high and middle poverty groups combined (17.6), had less than a high school education (16.8), and were current smokers (16.3).
- The prevalence of edentulism among adults increased from 1.2% at 35–49 years to 5.9% at 50–64 years, 11.4% at 65–74 years, and 19.7% at 75 years or older (Tables 16 and 18). Among adults 65 years or older (Table 18), edentulism was more prevalent among those who were non-Hispanic Black (21.8%), were in the high poverty group (29.8%), had less than a high school education (33.4%), and were current smokers (29.4%).