2025 Facts at a Glance
Wondering what’s actually true about dental health? These quick-hit facts summarize the state of mouths across the U.S. and around the world.
- Tooth decay affects 2.5 billion people globally as of 2022.
- Just 32% of U.S. 8-year-olds have protective sealants on their molars.
- 13.8% of U.S. adults aged 65 and up have lost all their natural teeth.
- Only 44.2% of Americans visited a dentist in 2021.
- Dental hygienists earned a median salary of $94,260 in 2024.
- Women made up nearly 40% of all practicing U.S. dentists in 2024.
- Water fluoridation still helps—but less than it used to.
- The FDA added warning labels to amalgam fillings in 2025.
What Counts as a Cavity?
- Tooth decay is the most common health condition on Earth, impacting 2.5 billion people in 2022.
- In 2020, 55% of U.S. eight-year-olds had already experienced tooth decay.
- Untreated cavities affected 18% of eight-year-olds in that same survey year.
- Cavities are caused by acid-producing bacteria that feed on sugars and weaken enamel over time.
- The technical term for tooth decay is “dental caries”—they're chronic, not just a kid thing.
Gum Disease Facts
- Gum disease begins with gingivitis and can progress to periodontitis, which damages bone.
- In 2020, 13.8% of adults aged 65 and older had no natural teeth left, largely due to gum disease or decay.
- Periodontitis is more common in smokers and people with diabetes.
- Advanced gum disease has been linked to systemic conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer’s, though causation is unclear.
- Most gum disease is preventable with daily brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings.
Everyday Prevention Facts
- Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste reduces your risk of cavities by about 25%.
- Flossing or using interdental brushes helps remove plaque that your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Skipping meals may raise cavity risk by lowering saliva production, which helps neutralize acids.
- Staying hydrated supports saliva production, which helps fight decay naturally.
- Regular dental visits improve long-term oral health, especially when started young.
Fluoridation and Sealants
- Water fluoridation reduces cavities by about 25% in children and adults.
- The U.S. Public Health Service recommends 0.7 mg/L fluoride in community water systems.
- In 2020, only 32% of U.S. eight-year-olds had dental sealants, even though 77% needed them.
- Sealants prevent about 80% of cavities in molars during the first two years after application.
- Cochrane reviews found fluoridation’s benefits have shrunk since the 1970s, likely due to widespread toothpaste use.
Who Does What in Dentistry?
- In 2024, the U.S. had 202,485 professionally active dentists.
- Women made up 39.6% of dentists that year, up from just 24% in 2005.
- The average retirement age for dentists reached 68.7 in 2024.
- 94% of dental hygienists work in dental offices, with a median salary of $94,260.
- Dental assistants numbered 381,900 in 2024 and typically earned around $47,300.
- Certified dental assistants earned about $3.50 more per hour than non-certified peers in 2024.
- One in five dentists reported working in a specialty like orthodontics or pediatric dentistry.
Materials and Implants Facts
- Dental implants have a five-year success rate above 90%, according to long-term studies.
- Crowns, fillings, and veneers are now made from advanced ceramics and composites that can last over a decade.
- In 2025, the FDA reclassified dental amalgam and whitening strips as higher-risk devices requiring stricter labeling.
- Amalgam now carries warnings for pregnant people, children, and those with mercury sensitivities.
- Whitening strips must now include safety instructions and enamel risk disclosures.
- Custom mouthguards and dental materials must list all active and inactive ingredients under new FDA rules.
History Bits and Records
- George Washington’s dentures were made of ivory, metal, and human teeth—not wood.
- In 1917, Irene Newman became the first licensed dental hygienist in the U.S.
- Isaac Newton once had a tooth pulled and set in a gold ring—auctioned for today’s equivalent of $35,000.
- Dental records remain one of the most reliable ways to identify human remains.
- Forensic dentistry is used in disaster response and criminal investigations worldwide.
