QuickStats: Prevalence of Complete Tooth Loss* Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years,† by Federal Poverty Level§ — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 1999–2018
Weekly / September 18, 2020 / 69(37);1334
* Defined as the loss of all natural, permanent teeth.
† Estimates for the category of persons aged ≥65 years were age-adjusted by the direct method to the year 2000 U.S. Census population using the age groups 65–69, 70–74, and ≥75 years.
§ Poverty index category was calculated by dividing family income by a poverty threshold specific for family size using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines.
The age-adjusted prevalence of complete tooth loss among adults aged ≥65 years decreased from 29.3% during 1999–2000 to 12.6% during 2017–2018. For the same period, the prevalence decreased from 42.1% to 23.5% for adults living at <200% of the federal poverty level and from 17.7% to 8.5% for adults living at ≥200% of the federal poverty level. Throughout the period, the prevalence of complete tooth loss was higher among those living at <200% of the federal poverty level.
Sources: Fleming E, Afful J, Griffin SO. Prevalence of tooth loss among older adults: United States, 2015–2018. NCHS data brief, no. 368. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db368.htm. National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.
Reported by: Eleanor Fleming, PhD, DDS; Joseph Afful, MS; Deanna Kruszon-Moran, MS, 301-458-4328, ddk0@cdc.gov.
Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Prevalence of Complete Tooth Loss Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years, by Federal Poverty Level — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 1999–2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1334. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6937a8.