Tooth Loss and Dental Implant Statistics By Stephen Dowell, DDS on April 20, 2019

Tooth loss is a problem many adults will face within their lifetime. Fortunately, dental implants are available to permanently replace missing teeth and restore the smile.

At Dowell Dental Group, Drs. Stephen C. Dowell and Byron Rossi offer dental implants to help patients dealing with tooth loss enjoy restored dental function. Looking at the statistics for tooth loss and dental implants helps to show our patients in Minerva, OH just how prevalent tooth loss is and how beneficial dental implants are for people suffering from missing teeth.

Tooth Loss Statistics

Tooth loss is a significant problem throughout the United States. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, at least 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and as many as 36 million are missing all of their teeth.

The number of Americans missing teeth is only expected to rise in the next 15 years, and may affect as many as 200 million Americans.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, on average adults age 20 to 34 are missing at least one permanent tooth.

Tooth Loss Is More Likely with Age

Tooth loss can affect people of any age, but older people are more likely to suffer from tooth loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), almost 1 in 5 adults 65 or older have lost all of their teeth.

The number of adults missing all of their teeth only increases with age; the CDC reports that people 75 or older are twice as likely to be missing all of their teeth than those who are 65 to 74.

Dental Implant Statistics

Dental implants are growing in popularity as more Americans suffer from tooth loss. According to the Journal of Dental Research, the prevalence of dental implants has increased by more than five percent between 2015 and 2016.

The Journal of Dental Research also states that Americans age 65 to 74 had the greatest increase in dental implant treatment, which is not surprising given the CDC's statistics of the prevalence of tooth loss among people between the ages of 65 and 74.

Dental Implant Success Rates

The success of dental implant treatment is largely affected by patient aftercare. For example, smoking before dental implant treatment and during recovery can slow healing and increase the risk of infection. Poor oral hygiene can also increase the risk of infection, which can cause an implant to fail.

Despite the possibility of dental implant failure, dental implant treatment has high success rates. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, dental implants have a success rate of over 97 percent.

With proper care and maintenance, Minerva patients can expect dental implants to last for decades, even a lifetime. Other dental restoration treatments, such as denture and dental bridges, don't last nearly as long and often require replacement within 10 years of treatment.

Statistics Point to the Benefits of Dental Implants

With the increase in the prevalence of tooth loss among adults and the high success rates of dental implants, it's no surprise that dental implants are becoming more and more common. The increase in dental implant treatment may be largely thanks to the many benefits this treatment offers.

Some of the many benefits dental implant treatment offers patients in include:

• Look and feel natural: Dental implants look, feel, and function like the natural teeth.
• Can be used to replace one or more teeth: Dental implants can be paired with different restorations, including dental crowns, implant-supported bridges, and implant-supported dentures to replace one, several, or a full set of teeth.
• Long lasting results: With proper care, dental implants can last decades or even a lifetime.
• Implants prevent bone loss: When teeth are lost, the portion of jawbone that supported the teeth will begin to atrophy, or dissolve, over time. Placing implants in empty tooth sockets helps stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone loss.

Schedule a Consultation

If you would like to find out if dental implants are right for your needs, we invite you to schedule a consultation at one of our Minerva area offices.