Denture Statistics

Dentures are a popular choice to substitute missing teeth. Whether you need to replace a few pearly whites or a whole set, they’re an affordable and practical solution that the masses trust.

But just how many people wear dentures? This article shares statistics on this topic across different countries, times, and demographics.

How Many People Wear Dentures?

Nearly 41 million Americans turned to dentures in 2020, according to the Simmons National Consumer Survey and U.S. Census data.¹ That’s a lot of pearly whites swapped out for an artificial set. 

Whether it’s for fashion or function, dentures are commonplace across the globe. People rely on them to help them eat, speak, and feel confident about their appearance.

Do Young People Wear Dentures?

Yes, since toothlessness doesn’t discriminate based on age. Almost 1 billion people worldwide suffer from dental trauma.

Of those, 20% of children under 12 are affected. Moreover, 7% of people aged 20 or older are missing all their permanent teeth.⁷

Most of these cases are attributed to poor dental hygiene, gum disease, injury, and cavities. Even genetics passed down from parents can be a factor.³
Whatever the reason, dentures are a practical solution for teeth replacement at any age. And with modern technology, you can expect a comfortable, secure fit.

Tooth Loss Statistics

• Over 36 million Americans are currently toothless, and another 120 million are missing at least one tooth.³
• Two out of every three people in the elderly community are completely toothless.³  That’s one in five for those aged 65+.⁴
• 23 million seniors have lost all their teeth, and another 12 million are missing teeth in one area of their mouth.³
• Tooth loss is a major concern for those living in poverty and the elderly.³

• The likelihood of complete tooth loss doubles (26%) for adults aged 75+ compared to just 13% of those aged 65 to 74.⁴
• Over 200 million people worldwide will suffer from partial edentulism in the next 15 years. The majority of American adults will also experience this condition.³
• Toothlessness can lead to serious health issues like cancer, diabetes, and obesity.³
• 2.2% of adults between the ages of 20 to 64 are completely toothless.⁶

Other Denture Statistics

• Approximately 15% of all people without teeth get fitted for dentures annually.³
• More than 3,500 prosthodontists—professionals who specialize in denture fabrication—serve patients across the United States.³
• Nine out of ten people who suffer from edentulism (toothlessness) rely on dentures.³
• Depending on the type of denture you need, prices can range from $2,000 for a partial set to $55,000 for All-on-4 upper and lower dentures.⁵

When Were Dentures Invented?

The Etruscans from ancient Italy crafted the earliest dentures in 700 B.C. They fashioned it out of animal or human teeth.²

Then the 1700s brought the first porcelain dentures. However, they didn’t catch on. They were fragile, unnaturally white, and didn’t look real.

Fast forward to the 1820s when Claudius Ash, an English silversmith, revolutionized the game with his gold-plate dentures featuring porcelain teeth. 

It was also in the 1800s when ivory dentures became popular. But elephants weren’t the only  ones who contributed to the prosthetics; hippos and walruses also lent helping tusks.

As technology evolved, craftsmen developed a hardened rubber called vulcanite in the 1850s. This created more durable, realistic-looking dentures that could hold porcelain teeth.

Throughout the 20th century, denture-making materials continued to evolve with the introduction of acrylic resin and plastic.