Andrew G. Mortensen D.D.S.

Tooth Loss and Dental Implant Statistics

Jun 21, 2019 @ 09:00 AM — by Andrew Mortensen, DDS
Tagged with: Dental Implants

The primary goal of professional dental care is to help patients maintain a healthy oral environment that can support the natural teeth. Unfortunately, statistics show that it is more likely than not that adults will lose at least one tooth throughout their lifetime.

When tooth loss does occur, Dr. Andrew Mortensen can provide patients with a strong and durable tooth replacement. For those of our Fountain Valley, CA patients who are candidates, dental implants are the best option.

Dental implants fuse with the jaw to act as artificial tooth roots. Implants can provide support to a full range of dental restorations. Recent tooth loss and dental implant statistics suggest that these restorations will continue to play an important role in the dental field for years to come.

How Common Is Tooth Loss?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, has published findings from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which covered the years of 2011 and 2012. This survey found that among surveyed adults between the ages of 20 and 64, only 48 percent had their full set of permanent teeth. In other words, over half of American adults have lost at least one tooth by the time they reach the age of 64.

Statistics reported by the survey suggest that tooth loss becomes more of a risk as a person ages. The percentage of adults with all of their permanent teeth was twice as high among adults ages 20 to 39 (67 percent) compared to among adults aged 40 to 64 (34 percent).

Tooth Loss and Seniors

The area of the population where tooth loss is really a concern is seniors. In an article discussing the oral health of older Americans, the CDC reports that nearly one in five adults aged 65 or older have lost all of their adult teeth, a condition known as edentulism. As with regular tooth loss, edentulism becomes more common as a person ages. The article reports that 26 percent of adults aged 75 or older have no remaining permanent teeth.

According to data, the US Census expects the senior population to continue to grow. It is estimated that, by the year 2060, adults over the age of 65 will account for 24 percent of the overall population in the United States. This prediction highlights the continued need for reliable tooth loss treatments, such as those offered at our Fountain Valley dental practice.

Popularity of Dental Implants

Dentists across the country report that dental implants remain one of the most popular treatment options for patients who have experienced tooth loss. Dental implants are an appropriate option whether a patient has lost a single tooth or an entire arch of teeth.

According to a market research report published by Grand View Research, the global dental implant market is valued at 3.77 billion dollars, and is expected to grow over the next several years. Although the dental implant market seems to be thriving, it is difficult to say exactly how many patients have benefited from dental implant treatment because there is not a national database that tracks each procedure.

Schedule an Appointment

If you have experienced adult tooth loss, the restorative dentistry treatments offered by Dr. Andrew Mortensen can help you rebuild your smile. Contact us at your earliest convenience to learn more about the tooth loss treatments that are available at our Fountain Valley practice. You can also call us at (714) 964-4183 to schedule an appointment.