Why is this data important?

People who are missing teeth or who wear dentures may not get the proper nutrition from fresh fruits and vegetables if they prefer soft foods that they can chew more easily. Severe or complete tooth loss can also make it difficult to eat meat and obtain a healthy and balanced diet.

Complete Tooth Loss in Our Community

The percentage of adults over the age of 65 years in the US who have lost all of their permanent teeth because of tooth decay or gum disease has declined from 16.2% in 2012 to 13.4% in 2018. In Texas, the percentage of adults over the age of 65 years old who have lost all their permanent teeth increased dramatically from 3.4% in 2014 to 13.8% in 2016. Since 2016, the percentage of adults with complete tooth loss in Texas has stayed about the same. In 2020, it was estimated that 13.3% of older Texan adults had lost all of their permanent teeth. 

In Texas, there are slightly more males (14%) with complete tooth loss than females (12.7%). Black Texans (21%) tend to experience complete tooth loss at a higher rate than Hispanic (12.5%) or white Texans (12.4%). The level of complete tooth loss among older Texans also differs by education level. Nearly 1 in 5 older adults in Texas who have only a high school diploma or GED experience complete tooth loss. As the education level of older Texans increases, fewer individuals tend to experience loss of all of their permanent teeth. Older Texan adults who have a disability are nearly twice as likely to experience complete loss of their permanent teeth when compared to older Texan adults who do not have a disability. 

In 2018 in Taylor County, it was estimated that 14.8% of adults aged 65+ had lost all of their teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease. Looking at zip codes within Taylor County, the areas most affected by complete tooth loss were the zip codes of 79603 (20%) and 79601 (17.5%). The areas that were least affected by complete tooth loss were 79508 (9.2%) and 79541 (9.4%).