Your mouth can reveal a lot about your overall health. Yet dental problems remain among the most common health conditions worldwide, affecting people of all ages and income levels.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oral diseases affect nearly 3.7 billion people worldwide. Untreated tooth decay in permanent teeth is the most common health condition, while severe gum disease affects more than a billion cases globally.
The situation is not limited to developing countries. In the United States, 20.5% of adults aged 20–64 had untreated tooth decay in the latest national examination data covering 2017 through March 2020. Meanwhile, US dental expenditures reached $189 billion in 2024, illustrating the scale of the dental care industry.
But access to treatment remains uneven. Income, dental insurance, age, and preventive care all influence whether people receive dental treatment before a problem becomes more serious.
This guide compiles 50 dental care statistics and facts, covering global oral health, tooth decay, gum disease, preventive dentistry, dental visits, insurance, and the cost of dental care.
Data note: These statistics are drawn from different countries and reporting periods. Global figures are identified separately from US figures. The CDC’s 2024 oral-health surveillance report uses examination data collected from 2017 to March 2020, while the latest American Dental Association (ADA) access report was published in 2026 and includes 2024 dental-care data.
Key dental care statistics
- Oral diseases affect nearly 3.7 billion people worldwide.
- Severe periodontal disease affects more than 1 billion cases globally.
- Half of US children aged 6–9 have had cavities in their baby or permanent teeth.
- 20.5% of US adults aged 20–64 have untreated tooth decay.
- 42.2% of US adults aged 30 and older had periodontal disease in data collected between 2009 and 2014.
- Dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in the back teeth over two years.
- 47% of the US population visited a dentist in 2024.
- US dental expenditures reached $189 billion in 2024.
Sources: WHO, CDC, NIDCR, QDF and ADA.
Global dental care and oral health statistics
Oral health is a global public-health issue. Tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer and tooth loss affect millions of people, with the greatest burden often falling on populations that face barriers to affordable dental care.
How common are oral diseases worldwide?
1. Nearly 3.7 billion people worldwide are affected by oral diseases.
Source: WHO: Oral Health, published March 17, 2025.
Data year: Global estimate cited in the 2025 fact sheet; the summary page does not specify a single collection year for this figure.
The figure demonstrates the enormous global burden of oral disease and the importance of prevention and accessible dental treatment.
2. Approximately 45% of the world’s population, or 3.5 billion people, were estimated to have oral diseases.
Source: WHO: Global Oral Health Status Report, published November 18, 2022.
Data year: Global estimates presented in the 2022 report.
Why it matters: This provides an important baseline for tracking the worldwide burden of oral diseases, although the WHO’s subsequent fact sheet cites a higher estimate of nearly 3.7 billion.
3. Three out of every four people affected by oral diseases live in low- and middle-income countries.
Source: WHO: Oral Health Neglect Affects Nearly Half the World’s Population, published November 18, 2022.
Data year: Global estimates reported in 2022.
Why it matters: The concentration of oral disease in lower-income countries highlights the relationship between access to dental services, household resources, and oral health outcomes.
4. Global cases of oral diseases increased by 1 billion over the previous 30 years.
Source: WHO: Global Oral Health Status Report, published in 2022.
Data period: The three decades preceding the report.
Why it matters: The increase shows that progress in oral-health prevention and treatment has not kept pace with the growing global burden.
5. Untreated dental caries in permanent teeth was the most common health condition according to Global Burden of Disease 2021 findings.
Source: WHO: Oral Health, published March 17, 2025.
Data year: Global Burden of Disease 2021.
Why it matters: Tooth decay is not a minor or rare condition; it is a major health burden that requires accessible preventive care and timely treatment.
6. Severe periodontal diseases are estimated to affect more than 1 billion cases worldwide.
Source: WHO: Oral Health, published March 17, 2025.
Data year: Global estimate cited in the 2025 fact sheet; the page does not specify a single underlying collection year.
Why it matters: The scale of severe gum disease reinforces the importance of gum-health screening and treatment before periodontal damage leads to tooth loss.
Tooth loss and oral cancer around the world
7. The global average prevalence of complete tooth loss is almost 7% among people aged 20 and older.
Source: WHO: Oral Health, published in 2025.
Data year: Global estimate cited by WHO; the fact sheet does not specify the underlying year.
Why it matters: Complete tooth loss represents an important indicator of accumulated oral disease and can affect eating, speaking and quality of life.
8. The global prevalence of complete tooth loss rises to an estimated 23% among people aged 60 and older.
Source: WHO: Oral Health, published in 2025.
Data year: Global estimate cited by WHO; the underlying year is not specified on the summary page.
Why it matters: The higher prevalence among older adults highlights the importance of maintaining oral health throughout life rather than treating dental care as a concern only for younger people.
9. Cancers of the lip and oral cavity accounted for an estimated 389,846 new cases and 188,438 deaths worldwide in 2022.
Source: WHO: Oral Health, published in 2025, citing the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Data year: 2022.
Why it matters: These figures illustrate the global burden of oral cancer and the importance of awareness, risk reduction and prompt assessment of suspicious mouth lesions.
Tooth decay and cavity statistics
Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, develops when acids produced by plaque bacteria damage the tooth surface. Cavities can affect both primary teeth and permanent teeth, and untreated decay can progress to pain, infection and tooth loss.
The following figures come mainly from US national examination data published by the CDC and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
10. Half of US children aged 6–9 have had cavities in their baby or permanent teeth.
Source: CDC: Cavity Facts, published May 15, 2024.
Data period: 2017–March 2020.
Why it matters: The high prevalence among young children demonstrates why preventive dental visits and early intervention are important during childhood.
11. Among children aged 6–9 from lower-income households, 25% had untreated cavities, compared with 10% of children from higher-income households.
Source: CDC: Cavity Facts, published May 15, 2024.
Data period: 2017–March 2020.
Why it matters: The difference highlights how household income and access to treatment can influence whether childhood tooth decay is treated.
12. Some 10.4% of US adolescents aged 12–19 had untreated decay in their permanent teeth.
Source: NIDCR: Dental Caries in Adolescents, based on national surveillance data.
Data period: 2017–March 2020; the statistics page was subsequently reviewed in 2026.
Why it matters: Untreated decay during adolescence can lead to pain and more extensive dental treatment if it is not addressed.
13. Nearly 57% of US adolescents aged 12–19 had experienced dental caries in their permanent teeth.
Source: NIDCR: Dental Caries in Adolescents.
Data period: 2011–2016, the latest period cited for overall caries experience on the page.
Why it matters: The statistic captures both treated and untreated tooth decay, illustrating how common a history of cavities is among adolescents.
14. Approximately 20.5% of US adults aged 20–64 had untreated decay in their permanent teeth.
Source: CDC: 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, Table 11, published October 9, 2024.
Data period: 2017–March 2020.
Why it matters: The finding shows that untreated cavities remain a substantial problem among working-age adults, not just children.
15. Untreated tooth decay affected 39.6% of dentate adults aged 20–64 in the high-poverty group, compared with 13.2% in the low-poverty group.
Source: CDC: 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, Table 11, published in 2024.
Data period: 2017–March 2020.
Why it matters: The substantial difference highlights the relationship between poverty and unmet dental treatment needs.
16. Some 11.1% of US children aged 2–5 had untreated caries in their primary teeth.
Source: NIDCR: Dental Caries in Children.
Data period: 2017–March 2020; page reviewed in 2026.
Why it matters: Untreated decay in early childhood can cause pain and difficulty eating, making early identification and treatment especially important.
17. Approximately 17.7% of US children aged 6–8 had untreated decay in their primary teeth.
Source: NIDCR: Dental Caries in Children.
Data period: 2017–March 2020; page reviewed in 2026.
Why it matters: The result shows that untreated decay remains common during the transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth.
Gum disease and tooth loss statistics
Gum disease affects the tissues that support teeth. In its more severe forms, periodontal disease can damage the bone around teeth, increase tooth mobility and contribute to tooth loss.
The US periodontal estimates below come from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2009 and 2014. Although published research remains useful, these figures are older than the CDC’s more recent tooth-decay surveillance estimates.
18. An estimated 42.2% of US adults aged 30 and older had some form of periodontitis.
Source: NIDCR: Periodontal Disease in Adults.
Data period: NHANES 2009–2014; the NIDCR page was last reviewed in August 2021.
Why it matters: The figure shows how widespread periodontal disease is among US adults and why gum health should be part of routine dental examinations.
19. Severe periodontitis affected 7.8% of US adults aged 30 and older.
Source: NIDCR: Periodontal Disease in Adults.
Data period: NHANES 2009–2014.
Why it matters: Severe periodontitis can cause substantial damage to the tissues supporting the teeth, making early diagnosis and treatment important.
20. The prevalence of total periodontitis was 50.2% among men in the US study.
Source: NIDCR: Periodontal Disease in Adults.
Data period: NHANES 2009–2014.
Why it matters: The result identifies a population group with a high measured burden of gum disease, although it does not establish that sex itself causes the difference.
21. Total periodontitis affected 62.4% of current smokers in the study.
Source: NIDCR: Periodontal Disease in Adults.
Data period: NHANES 2009–2014.
Why it matters: The finding reinforces the established importance of smoking as a risk factor that dental professionals should consider when evaluating periodontal health.
22. Total periodontitis affected 53.1% of adults who reported not using dental floss in the preceding seven days.
Source: NIDCR: Periodontal Disease in Adults.
Data period: NHANES 2009–2014.
Why it matters: The association highlights the importance of regular interdental cleaning, while recognising that a survey association alone does not prove causation.
23. Total periodontitis affected 54.8% of adults whose last dental visit was more than 12 months earlier or who had never visited a dentist.
Source: NIDCR: Periodontal Disease in Adults.
Data period: NHANES 2011–2014 for the last-visit comparison.
Why it matters: The result highlights an association between infrequent dental attendance and a higher measured prevalence of gum disease.
24. US adults aged 20–64 had an average of 25.5 remaining permanent teeth in the latest national examination cycle.
Source: NIDCR: Tooth Loss in Adults.
Data period: 2017–March 2020; page reviewed in 2026.
Why it matters: Average tooth retention provides a useful measure of oral health across adulthood and can reveal differences between population groups.
25. Some 15.2% of US adults aged 65 and older had lost all their natural teeth.
Source: CDC: 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, Selected Findings, published October 9, 2024.
Data period: 2017–March 2020.
Why it matters: Complete tooth loss can affect nutrition, speech, comfort and quality of life, making tooth retention an important public-health outcome.
26. Complete tooth loss affected 19.7% of US adults aged 75 and older, rising to 29.8% among adults aged 65 and older in the high-poverty group.
Source: CDC: 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, Selected Findings, published in 2024.
Data period: 2017–March 2020.
Why it matters: These figures illustrate both age-related tooth loss and the socioeconomic disparities associated with poor oral-health outcomes.
Children’s dental care and cavity prevention statistics
Preventive dental care can reduce the risk of cavities and help children retain healthy teeth. Dental sealants, fluoride toothpaste and routine dental examinations are among the measures used to prevent tooth decay.
27. Dental sealants prevent 80% of cavities in the back teeth over two years.
Source: CDC: Dental Sealant Facts, published May 15, 2024.
Data period: Evidence summarised by the CDC in 2024.
Why it matters: The statistic demonstrates the potential value of applying protective sealants to vulnerable chewing surfaces before cavities develop.
28. Nine out of ten cavities occur in the back teeth.
Source: CDC: Dental Sealant Facts, published in 2024.
Data period: Evidence cited by the CDC’s dental-sealant guidance.
Why it matters: The concentration of cavities in the back teeth helps explain why sealants are often targeted at molars.
29. Less than half of US children and adolescents have dental sealants.
Source: CDC: Dental Sealant Facts, published in 2024.
Data period: Sealant-use estimates summarised by the CDC using national survey data.
Why it matters: The result suggests that a useful cavity-prevention intervention remains underused among children and teenagers.
30. Some 42% of US children aged 6–11 have dental sealants on their permanent teeth.
Source: CDC: Dental Sealant Facts, published in 2024.
Data period: National sealant-use estimates cited by the CDC.
Why it matters: The proportion provides a benchmark for evaluating efforts to expand preventive care among primary-school-aged children.
31. Among US adolescents aged 12–19, 48% have dental sealants on their permanent teeth.
Source: CDC: Dental Sealant Facts, published in 2024.
Data period: National sealant-use estimates cited by the CDC.
Why it matters: The result indicates that sealant coverage remains below universal levels even among older children and teenagers.
32. School-age children aged 6–11 without sealants have almost three times as many cavities in their first molars as children with sealants.
Source: CDC: Dental Sealant Facts, published in 2024.
Data period: Evidence cited by the CDC.
Why it matters: The comparison illustrates the potential difference between having this preventive protection and going without it.
33. Providing school-based dental sealants to approximately 7 million low-income children who lack them could save up to $300 million in dental treatment costs.
Source: CDC: Dental Sealant Facts, published in 2024.
Data period: Cost-saving estimate cited by the CDC.
Why it matters: The estimate demonstrates how preventive dental programmes may reduce future treatment expenses while improving access for children facing financial barriers.
34. WHO recommends brushing twice daily with fluoride-containing toothpaste containing 1,000–1,500 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride.
Source: WHO: Oral Health, published March 17, 2025.
Data year: Prevention guidance cited in the 2025 fact sheet.
Why it matters: The recommendation provides a practical evidence-based foundation for everyday cavity prevention.
Dental visits, insurance and access to care statistics
A person may recognise the importance of dental treatment but still struggle to obtain it. Insurance status, family income and age can influence whether someone receives preventive examinations and timely care.
The following statistics use the ADA Health Policy Institute’s September 2026 report, which analyses the latest available US dental-care data and includes estimates for 2024.
35. Approximately 47% of the US population visited a dentist in 2024, up from 46% in 2023.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published September 2026.
Data year: 2023–2024.
Why it matters: The increase suggests a recovery in dental-care utilisation, although more than half the population still did not report a dental visit within the preceding year.
36. In 2024, 53.3% of US children aged 0–18 visited a dentist, compared with 41.2% of adults aged 19–64.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The difference illustrates how dental-care utilisation varies by age, with children more likely than working-age adults to have a reported visit.
37. Some 54% of the US white population visited a dentist in 2024, compared with 34% of the Hispanic population.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The gap highlights differences in dental-care utilisation across demographic groups and the importance of addressing barriers to access.
38. Dental visits were reported by 59% of people at or above 400% of the federal poverty level, compared with 29% of people below 100% of the federal poverty level.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The result highlights the connection between household resources and dental attendance, reinforcing affordability as an important access issue.
39. In 2024, 58.1% of people with private dental insurance visited a dentist, compared with 32.5% of those with public insurance and 30.8% of those without insurance.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The differences demonstrate that dental attendance varies substantially by insurance status, although insurance coverage alone does not guarantee access to a suitable provider.
40. In 2024, 57% of the US population had private dental insurance, 19% had public dental coverage and 24% were uninsured for dental care.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The distribution provides a national snapshot of dental-benefit coverage and the size of the population without dental insurance.
41. Dental insurance coverage gaps differed by age: 7% of US children, 21% of working-age adults and 37% of seniors were uninsured for dental care when Medicare Advantage plans were accounted for.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in September 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The figures show that dental-insurance gaps are particularly pronounced among older adults, even though oral-health needs can increase with age.
42. Among US children in 2024, 64.2% of those with private dental insurance visited a dentist, compared with 42.0% of those with public insurance and 25.9% of those without dental insurance.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The differences show how insurance status is associated with children’s access to preventive dental visits.
43. Among US adults aged 19–64 in 2024, 52.9% of those with private dental insurance visited a dentist, compared with 24.8% with public insurance and 17.0% without dental insurance.
Source: ADA: National Trends in Dental Care Use, Insurance Coverage and Cost Barriers, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: This comparison highlights the particularly low reported dental-care utilisation among uninsured working-age adults.
Dental care costs and spending statistics
Dental care represents a substantial portion of healthcare spending in the United States. National expenditure data also show that private insurance, direct patient payments and government programmes all contribute to the cost of treatment.
44. US national dental expenditures reached $189 billion in 2024.
Source: ADA: National Dental Expenditures, 2024, published in January 2026 using CMS expenditure data.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The total illustrates the size of the US dental-care market and the financial resources allocated to dental services.
45. Dental care accounted for 3.6% of total US healthcare expenditure in 2024.
Source: ADA: National Dental Expenditures, 2024, published in 2026.
Data year: 2024.
Why it matters: The percentage shows the relative share of the US healthcare economy devoted to dental services.
46. After adjusting for inflation, US dental spending grew by $7 billion in 2024, a 4% increase from 2023.
Source: ADA: National Dental Expenditures, 2024, published in January 2026.
Data period: 2023–2024.
Why it matters: The increase indicates that real spending on dental services continued to expand, even after accounting for inflation.
47. Private dental insurance spending increased by 2.3% between 2023 and 2024.
Source: ADA: National Dental Expenditures, 2024, published in 2026.
Data period: 2023–2024.
Why it matters: The increase provides insight into changes in the amount paid for dental care through private insurance.
48. Out-of-pocket dental spending increased by 3.3% between 2023 and 2024.
Source: ADA: National Dental Expenditures, 2024, published in 2026.
Data period: 2023–2024.
Why it matters: The increase highlights changes in direct patient spending, which is particularly relevant for people who face affordability barriers.
49. Government-program spending on dental care increased by 9% between 2023 and 2024, largely due to Medicare.
Source: ADA: National Dental Expenditures, 2024, published in 2026.
Data period: 2023–2024.
Why it matters: Government spending is an important part of the dental-financing picture, and the increase helps explain changes in the overall sources of funding.
50. US consumer dental spending was up 4% as of January 2026 compared with the previous 12 months.
Source: ADA: The Dental Care Market, updated in 2026.
Data period: The 12 months preceding January 2026.
Why it matters: The measure provides a more recent indicator of consumer dental spending than the annual 2024 expenditure totals, although the two measures use different reporting methods.
Conclusion: What the dental care statistics reveal
The evidence shows that dental care remains a major public-health concern. Globally, billions of people live with oral diseases, and severe gum disease, tooth decay, and complete tooth loss continue to affect populations across age groups.
In the United States, the statistics reveal persistent differences in oral health by income, smoking status, dental insurance and age. Preventive measures such as dental sealants can help reduce cavities, while regular dental visits can support early detection and treatment.
The financial picture matters too. With US dental expenditures reaching $189 billion in 2024, access to affordable treatment is an important issue for patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
