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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged 35--44 Years with No Permanent Tooth Loss from Disease, by Race/Ethnicity* and Sex --- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 1988--1994 and 1999--2004

The proportion of adults who have never had a permanent tooth extracted because of dental caries or periodontal 
disease has nearly reached the Healthy People 
2010 target of 40% (objective 21-3), increasing from 30% during 1988--1994 to 
38% during 1999--2004. Although still furthest from the target percentage, tooth retention among non-Hispanic blacks 
improved the most compared with Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites, increasing from approximately 12% during 
1988--1994 to approximately 27% during 1999--2004. Although tooth retention was similar among females (31%) and 
males (29%) during 1988--1994, males significantly exceeded the 
Healthy People 2010 target during 1999--2004, increasing 
14 percentage points to 43%. In contrast, the observed 3% increase in tooth retention for females was not statistically 
significant from 1988--1994 to 1999--2004.

* Findings based on dental examination of a sample of the civilian, non-- institutionalized population conducted as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Before 1999, respondents were asked to select only one race. For 1999 and later years, respondents were asked to select one or more races. For all years, the categories black and white include persons who reported only one racial group and exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Persons of Mexican-American ethnicity might be any race.

† 95% confidence interval.

The proportion of adults who have never had a permanent tooth extracted because of dental caries or periodontal disease has nearly reached the Healthy People 2010 target of 40% (objective 21-3), increasing from 30% during 1988--1994 to 38% during 1999--2004. Although still furthest from the target percentage, tooth retention among non-Hispanic blacks improved the most compared with Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites, increasing from approximately 12% during 1988--1994 to approximately 27% during 1999--2004. Although tooth retention was similar among females (31%) and males (29%) during 1988--1994, males significantly exceeded the Healthy People 2010 target during 1999--2004, increasing 14 percentage points to 43%. In contrast, the observed 3% increase in tooth retention for females was not statistically significant from 1988--1994 to 1999--2004.

SOURCES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988--2004 data files. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.

CDC. Trends in oral health status: United States, 1988--1994 and 1999--2004. Vital Health Stat 2007;11(248). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_11/sr11_248.pdf.

US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010 (2nd ed, in 2 vols). Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2000. Available at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.

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Date last reviewed: 3/5/2009

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