Prevalence of Periodontitis in the United States
According to the CDC, about half of all American adults have some form of periodontal disease, and 70 percent of adults over the age of 65 have periodontal disease. A recently published study in the Journal of Dental Research revealed that periodontal disease is quickly becoming a serious public health issue.
The study analyzed data that was collected in the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Survey. The study revealed that nearly 65 million Americans have mild, moderate or severe periodontitis, which has been linked to tooth loss, bone loss and other dental and general health problems. Men were more likely to suffer from periodontal disease than women were, and Mexican-Americans had the highest risk of all ethnic groups. Current smokers, individuals with low income and those who had less than a high school education had prevalence rates between 64 and 67 percent.
The data highlights the necessity of annual comprehensive periodontal evaluations. A comprehensive periodontal evaluation examines each tooth, periodontal pocket depth and other factors linked to periodontal disease. Because mild periodontitis may have few noticeable symptoms in its earliest stages, many people are unaware that they have periodontal disease.
The risk of periodontal disease increases with age, but maintaining gum health can be associated with healthier aging. You may be more likely to retain more of your natural teeth, enjoy a diverse and healthy diet and maintain jawbone density.
Contact our dental office today to schedule a comprehensive periodontal evaluation with our dentist in Los Angeles.