The Sad Truth About Tooth Loss According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 50, most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. The full adult dentition consists of 32 teeth. That means by age 50 you can expect to have 37% fewer teeth.
The average number of missing teeth is 6.5 for adults between the ages of 20 and 64 years old. In other words, in that age range, the average number of teeth is 25.5.
Missing teeth can lead to only being able to consume foods that are easy-to-chew. The change in diet and inability to eat certain foods can lead to digestive problems and other health issues.
Missing teeth are the results of increased maternal age, low birth weight, multiple births and early exposure to certain infections, trauma, or drugs. Hypodontia or CMT (Congenitally Missing Teeth) usually is the result of genetic disorders such as ectodermal dysplasia or Down syndrome.
Among adults from 35 to 44-years-old, 69 percent have lost at least one permanent tooth. By age 50, Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth (including wisdom teeth). And among adults 65 to 74, 26 percent have lost all their teeth.
Seniors 65 years and older have an average of 20.7 remaining teeth.
Most children lose their last baby tooth around the age of 12. All non-wisdom teeth are typically in place around your child's 13th birthday. Wisdom teeth may wait until age 21 to make their presence known.
People with hypodontia are born with missing teeth. In other words, their teeth never develop. Hypodontia specifically refers to one to six missing teeth. The most common cause of hypodontia is heredity, which means biological parents pass the condition to their children.
Overall, a majority of adults have at least one tooth missing, and it grows increasingly common as you age. Naturally, some teeth are more likely to go than others. The most commonly missing are: Wisdom teeth.
Genetic factors cause congenitally missing teeth and this condition is often seen in generations of a family. The most common missing teeth are wisdom teeth, upper lateral incisors, and second premolars/bicuspids.
While some may worry more about a highly visible missing tooth (like a front tooth), the serious consequences of a missing tooth — including an increased risk of decay, a negative impact on eating and speaking, and possible bone loss — will impact an individual no matter where the missing tooth is.
More Serious Health Issues – The longer you wait to replace a missing tooth, the greater your risk for getting gum disease, which studies show can lead more serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and even cancer.
Tooth loss does more than impact the appeal of your smile, especially if you lose your front tooth. It affects your ability to eat and chew properly, as well as how you communicate. It may also lead to confidence issues and low self-esteem.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 50, most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. The full adult dentition consists of 32 teeth. That means by age 50 you can expect to have 37% fewer teeth.
Adults 20 to 64 years have an average of 25.5 remaining teeth.
It's so common that up to 20% of all adults are missing at least one tooth! The most common congenitally missing teeth are: The wisdom teeth – these often pesky teeth are the ones all the way in the back of the mouth.
Ideally, you should address the problem of missing teeth as soon as possible. If you have extractions done, you should wait no more than four to six months to replace the missing teeth. This will give your gums time to heal, but still, be soon enough that you don't have to worry about your teeth shifting.
Feeling embarrassed by missing teeth is very common, but even if you're missing one, two, or more teeth, you're absolutely not alone.
Research conducted across 19 countries found 19% of the population wear dentures. That's almost one in five.
Studies suggest that hypodontia is usually an inherited trait, but environmental factors during tooth development may also play a role. Having more than six permanent teeth missing is known as oligodontia, and a total absence of adult teeth is referred to as anodontia.
Facial Aesthetics
After losing your tooth, the bone tissue weakens, and your cheeks begin to cave in or sag. Your remaining teeth may also shift inside the mouth to harm your facial structure further. But even without affecting your facial features, a missing tooth makes you less attractive.
The most commonly missing teeth are the third molars, mandibular second molars, maxillary permanent lateral incisors, and maxillary second premolars. In contrast, the least commonly missing permanent teeth are the maxillary central incisors, the maxillary and mandibular first molars, and the mandibular canines.
Average Teeth Per Age Group
For Americans aged between 20 and 34, the average is just under 27 teeth (26.90) remaining. By the time you hit 49 years, you are feasibly down to 25.05 teeth on average. Once you get to 64, you are pretty average if you have around 22 (22.30) teeth still in your mouth.
In all these cases, researchers concluded that depression and anxiety were related to tooth loss. Poor self confidence, poor diet and pain are often the unfortunate consequences of tooth loss that can result in depression.
Periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults.