The High Cost of Oral Disease

"Oral diseases cause pain and disability for millions of Americans. Proven interventions, like dental sealants and fluoridated water, can improve oral health and save money for communities.

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Oral diseases—like cavities and gum disease—cause pain and disability for millions of Americans and cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.¹

Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the greatest unmet health treatment needs. Cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood,² and more than 1 in 4 adults in the United States have at least one untreated cavity.³

Gum disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the hard and soft structures that support the teeth⁴ and is a leading cause of tooth loss.⁵ Nearly half (46%) of all adults aged 30 or older show signs of gum disease, and severe gum disease affects about 9% of adults.⁶

Oral Diseases Cost Money and Lower Your Quality of Life

Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Left untreated, cavities and gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Tooth loss can affect a person’s self-esteem and contribute to social anxiety, lack of social connectedness, or depression.⁷ Severe tooth loss—having 8 or fewer teeth—makes it hard to chew food or have a healthy diet,⁸ which is important for overall health and preventing and controlling other chronic conditions.^9,10

Nearly 18% of working-age adults report that the appearance of their mouth and teeth affects their ability to interview for a job. For people with low incomes, the percentage increases to 29%.⁷

Treating oral disease also costs time and money. Regardless of age, income, or type of insurance, more people report financial barriers to dental care than to any other type of health care.¹¹ Over $45 billion is lost in productivity in the United States each year because of untreated oral disease,¹² and over 34 million school hours are lost each year because of unplanned urgent dental care.¹³ In 2017, there were 2.1 million emergency room visits for dental emergencies. Medicaid pays for about 69% of these visits for children and about 40% for adults.^.."
Oral Disease