Toothless In Hawaii? Not Likely
by Dr. Dean Edell
April 13, 1999
How many of us are going to wind up without any natural teeth after age
65? The answer may depend on where you live, your educational level, your
income, and whether you smoke, according to a survey from the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC).
Edentulism, or the loss of all natural permanent teeth, ranges from a
low of 14 percent of people over 65 in Hawaii to a high of 48 percent
in West Virginia - or almost half that state's older population.
Less than 20 percent of people over 65 have lost all their teeth in five
states - California, Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon and Wisconsin. In addition
to West Virginia, Kentucky and Louisiana have an edentulism rate of over
40 percent.
The CDC report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
(JAMA), analyzed data from 46 states that took part in the oral health
section of the 1995-1997 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance system. Here
are some other facts on total tooth loss in the over-65 population:
- The edentulism rate in people with less than a high school education
was about 42 percent, compared to 10-25 percent in those with more schooling.
- People without dental insurance are more likely to lose their teeth
(27 percent), than those with insurance (18 percent).
- Current, everyday cigarette smokers are at higher risk of losing all
their teeth (41 percent), than occasional smokers (39 percent), or former
smokers (29 percent). For people who never smoked, the rate is 20 percent.
- Non-Hispanic blacks have high edentulism (32 percent), compared to
non-Hispanic whites (24 percent) and Hispanics (18 percent).
- Total tooth loss is more common in those older than 75 (27 percent)
than among those ages 65-74 (23 percent).
The CDC says the survey shows that total tooth loss doesn't have to be
an inevitable part of aging. It notes that proper dental hygiene, fluoridation
of water, and new advances in dentistry techniques are all helping to
ensure tooth retention.
The study also shows what I've noticed in other population surveys, and
that is how social demographics are related to health issues.
To help even things out, the CDC and public health officials are recommending
the promotion of oral health education for all age groups, expansion of
dental insurance coverage, improved access to dental clinical services
and optimal fluoridation of community water supplies.
And, don't forget to brush and floss.
