Oral Health - Tooth Retention

Why Is This Important?

Tooth retention in adults is a good marker for oral health, which is important to overall health and quality of life. Oral health affects our ability to speak, smile, eat, and show emotions. It also affects self-esteem and attendance at work. Retaining teeth throughout life supports a healthy jaw bone structure resulting in healthier gums and lessening the chance of tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease. Tooth retention also supports facial structure and appearance, as well, while loss of teeth impacts the facial aging process. Tooth retention helps the aging population maintain their chewing performance, enabling them to continue eating a wider variety of healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease can both contribute to and be affected by the tooth decay and periodontal disease that can lead to tooth loss. Research recommends that daily brushing, flossing and annual prophylactic dental visits lead to better tooth retention.

Definition

The percentage of adults who have had no teeth extracted due to decay or gum disease Question text: How many of your permanent teeth have been removed because of tooth decay or gum disease? Include teeth lost to infection, but do not include teeth lost for other reasons, such as injury or orthodontics. (Question asked in even-numbered years.)

Data Sources

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, together with New Mexico Department of Health, Injury and Behavioral Epidemiology Bureau.
  (https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/ibeb/brfss/)
• U.S. data source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence and Trends Data.
  (https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/brfssprevalence)

How the Measure is Calculated