Tooth loss

Data table

Note

Estimates are based on 7,483 respondents; 5 (0.07%) were not stated (Don't know or Refused). LL/UL 95%CI = lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence interval for the point estimate.

Source

NSW Population Health Survey (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.

Commentary

One of the measures of overall oral health in adults is the number of remaining natural teeth. Good oral health can be described as having 20 or more teeth (AIHW, 2008).

Dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal diseases (gum diseases) are two of the five most prevalent health conditions in Australia. Both are preventable and if not treated early, will result in tooth loss. About 90% of all tooth loss can be attributed to these two oral health conditions (AHMAC, 2001). The loss of a tooth indicates failure of all preventive and restorative efforts (AIHW, 2003).

In 2007, among NSW residents aged 16 years and over, 38.7% reported that they had all of their natural teeth, 56.1% reported that they had some teeth missing and 5.1% reported that they had all teeth missing. A higher proportion of females (6.4%) than males (3.9%) had all their natural teeth missing (edentulism). As expected, rates of edentulism increased with age. Among respondents aged 55 years and over, rates of edentulism ranged from 6.3% (in 55 to 64 years olds) to 19.0% (in those aged 75 years and older) in males and 7.4% to 33.3% respectively in females. In age groups from 16 to 44 years only small proportion of males (from 0.3% to 1.1%) and females (from 0.3% to 1.3%) had all their natural teeth missing.

Over the years, the proportion of people who had all their natural teeth missing decreased substantially in NSW from 8.2% in 1998, to 5.1% in 2007 (CER, 2007). This may be due to a trend towards fewer extractions, and a higher mean number of functional teeth in younger age groups (AHMAC, 2001).

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For more information

Centre for Epidemiology and Research. 2007 Report on adult health in New South Wales. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2008. Available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/survey/hsurvey.html

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia's health 2008. Cat. no. AUS 99. Canberra: AIHW, 2008. Available at: www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10585

Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Committee. Oral health of Australians: National planning for oral health improvement: final report Adelaide: South Australian Department of Human Services, 2001.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Dental Statistics and Research Unit. The National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06 (State and territory reports). Dental Statistics and Research Series no. 39. Canberra: AIHW, 2008. Available at www.adelaide.edu.au/spdent/dsru/pub_frame.html

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Copyright notice

This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.

Suggested citation

Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).

Produced by

Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.

Last updated on 15 December 2008