Most people never see the numbers behind their oral health. At Lexington Family Smiles, we believe informed patients make better decisions, so we gathered the most relevant dental health statistics from trusted national sources and put them in one place. This page focuses on what these statistics actually mean for families here in Lexington, South Carolina, rather than abstract figures. Every statistic below is drawn from public health data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health, and America’s Health Rankings.
One of the most revealing dental statistics is how many adults skip regular care. According to CDC data, only about 63% of adults aged 18 to 64 visited a dentist in the past year. The statistics also show a clear gap tied to insurance: roughly 72% of adults with dental coverage saw a dentist in a recent year, compared with only about 45% of those without coverage. These dental visit statistics matter because the single most common reason adults give for skipping the dentist is the cost of care, not a lack of need.
The takeaway from these statistics is straightforward: more than a third of working-age adults are not getting the preventive care that keeps small problems small. That is exactly the barrier our membership savings plan and financing options are designed to remove.
Cavities remain one of the most common chronic conditions in the country, and the statistics prove how widespread they are. National data show that roughly 1 in 5 adults aged 20 to 64 has at least one untreated cavity right now. Among adults aged 20 to 44, the statistics are even higher, with about 26% living with untreated tooth decay. Broaden the lens and the numbers grow: approximately 90% of adults aged 20 to 64 have experienced tooth decay at some point in their lives.
These tooth decay statistics reinforce a simple truth. Decay is nearly universal, but untreated decay is a choice that often comes down to access and timing. Routine exams catch cavities while they are still small and inexpensive to treat.
The statistics on tooth loss show real progress alongside a persistent challenge. Among adults aged 65 and older, complete tooth loss fell from about 16% in 2012 to roughly 14% in 2020, a meaningful improvement in tooth retention. Yet gum disease, the leading driver of adult tooth loss, is still remarkably common: national statistics indicate that about 47% of adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease.
These statistics tell a hopeful story overall. Americans are keeping their natural teeth longer than previous generations, and consistent preventive care is a major reason why. Periodontal therapy, early gum-disease screening, and regular cleanings are how we help our Lexington patients stay on the right side of these statistics.
Pulled together, these dental statistics point to one conclusion: the biggest threats to your oral health are preventable, and the biggest barrier is simply getting in the door. Cost keeps many adults away, decay is common but catchable, and tooth loss is increasingly avoidable with steady care. Our goal is to make the preventive side of these statistics the easy choice for every family we serve.
Statistics on this page are drawn from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics (FastStats: Oral and Dental Health), the CDC Chronic Disease Indicators (Oral Health), America’s Health Rankings (Dental Visit, South Carolina), and peer-reviewed analysis published through the National Institutes of Health. These figures are updated periodically by their publishing agencies; we review this page regularly to keep the statistics current.