Here are some “fun facts” for our statistics and numbers loving friends – we know we aren’t the only ones!
One out of every two Americans age 30 or over have periodontal disease according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Estimates are that 47.2 percent, or 64.7 million American adults, have mild, moderate or severe periodontitis, the more advanced form of periodontal disease. In adults 65 and older, prevalence rates increase to 70.1 percent. This study was published in the Journal of Dental Research, the official publication of the International and American Associations for Dental Research.
Periodontal diseases are infections of the gums which can eventually destroy the support of your teeth. As time progresses, areas of the bone can be impacted. This is called periodontitis. At that stage, the gums can recede from the teeth and form pockets of bacteria and debris.
There are differences in periodontal disease rates among gender. The rate is higher in men than women (56.4 percent vs. 38.4 percent). Other segments with high prevalence rates include current smokers (64.2 percent); those living below the federal poverty level (65.4 percent); and those with less than a high school education (66.9 percent).
The instance of periodontal disease are higher in areas of the country with limited access to dental care. Rates are high in some southeastern and southwestern states, including areas along the Mississippi Delta, the US-Mexico border, and among Native American reservations. The findings in general suggest that many more people have periodontal disease than previously expected.
| Dr. Steven Lieber of Periodontal Health Center says, “It is more important than ever to receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation from your dental professional annually.”
