Periodontal Status and Root Carries
The NHANES III survey indicated, that while over 90% of those 13 years old or older had experienced some minor loss of periodontal attachment, only 25% had attachment loss of 3 to 4 mm, and
only 15% had 5 mm or greater attachment loss.”
Attachment loss (both number of affected people and severity) increased with age. Read more…
Missing Teeth
During the past several decades, there has been a steady reduction in both edentulism and numbers of teeth lost per person. While these trends indicate that edentulism may be disappearing, partial edentulism will continue.
Children Dental Care
Children ages 5 to 17 are experiencing less caries. It can be noted that the number of caries-free children is increasing and the average number of decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces (DMFS [for permanent teeth] or dmfs [for primary teeth]) is decreasing. In the 1971 to 1974 survey, only 26% of the children were caries-free, but by 1988 to 1991, 54.7% were caries-free. Likewise, in
1971 to 1974, children averaged 7.1 DMFS; this decreased to 2.5 in 1988 to 1991, a 65% reduction.
Read more…
Dental Health
The rate of dental spending growth will be approximately double that of projected economic growth during the same period.
Dental Health of the U.S. Population
In considering the current and projected dental health of the U.S. population, a brief assessment of the general health of the population is necessary.
Dental Health care of children
The expanded use of dietary fluoride supplements, school-based fluoride mouth-rinse programs, professional topical fluoride applications, and fluoride toothpastes also has contributed to this reduction.’ For example, over one fourth of the school districts in the United States offer schoolchildren the opportunity to participate in a fluoride mouth-rinse program .
Dental Spending rate
The rate of dental spending growth will be approximately double that of projected economic growth during the same period .
Dental Health with Economical Factors
No one can accurately project the economic future. While the U.S. economy will be part of a more global economy, the economic projections for the United States appear bright.
Improved dental materials
Increased research on biomaterials has led to the introduction of vastly improved dental materials. Developments in impression materials and gold foil and advancements in knowledge about liners and sealers are also factors that have resulted in better care and treatment for patients. Advances in metallurgy have resulted in a variety of improved alloys that are either already available or are being developed.
DYNAMICS OF OPERATIVE DENTISTRY
In the future, advances in treatment techniques,philosophies, and materials almost certainly will be made, just as in the past several decades, technological and scientific advances have dramatically affected the need for, demand for, and delivery of restorative services.