Treatment Needs in Adults (20 to 64)

Oral health in general has improved significantly over the past several decades in all population subgroups. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities are still found in some population groups.

Time Since Last Dental Visit (Table 1)

• 12% of Adults 20 to 64 have not been to the dentist within the past 5 years.
• 60% of all Adults age 20 to 64 have been to the dentist in the past year.
• More Black and Hispanic Adults and those with lower incomes or less education have not been to the dentist in the past 5 years.
• White adults and those with higher incomes and more education are more likely to have seen a dentist within the past year.

Perceived Condition of Teeth and Mouth (Table 2)

• A quarter of Adults 20 to 64 report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is excellent or very good.
• 14% of all Adults age 20 to 64 report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is poor.
• More Black and Hispanic Adults and those with lower incomes and less education report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is poor.
• Current smokers are much more likely to report that the condition of their mouth is poor.
• Adults with higher incomes and more education are much more likely to report that the condition of their teeth and mouth is very good or excellent.

Table 1 presents the amount of time since the last dental visit among Adults age 20 to 64 and for selected subgroups. Each number represents the percentage of subjects who visited their dentist within that time frame.

Table 2 presents the perceived (self-reported) condition of teeth and mouth among Adults age 20 to 64 and for selected subgroups. Each number represents the percentage subjects who perceived their own mouth in that condition.

Table 1: Adults, Time Since Last Dental Visit

Time since last dental visit among Adults 20 to 64 years of age, by selected characteristics:United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004

*FPL = Federal Poverty Level

Table 2: Adults, Perceived Condition of Teeth and Mouth

Perceived (self-reported) condition of teeth and mouth among adults 20 to 64 years of age, by selected characteristics:
United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2004

*FPL = Federal Poverty Level

Data Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been an important source of information on oral health and dental care
in the United States since the early 1970s.  Table 1 presents the latest NHANES (collected between 1999 and 2004) data regarding dental visits in adults.