Adult Indicators

Oral Health Data includes the following indicators of adult oral health from the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS):

• Dental Visit. Adults aged 18+ who have visited a dentist or dental clinic in the past year.
• Teeth Cleaning. Adults aged 18+ who have had their teeth cleaned in the past year (among adults with natural teeth who have ever visited a dentist or dental clinic). Please note: Data for this indicator is not available for years after 2010.
• Complete Tooth Loss. Adults aged 65+ who have lost all of their natural teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease.
• Lost 6 or More Teeth. Adults aged 65+ who have lost six or more teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease.  

Oral Health Data displays prevalence estimates for these indicators without adjustment for age. When comparing estimates between two states, consider the age differences in the state populations.

Three of these indicators (Dental Visit, Complete Tooth Loss, and Lost 6 or more Teeth) also appear in the following indicator sets:

• Chronic Disease Indicators

Indicators

• For more information about the indicators, see National Oral Health Surveillance System.

Data sources and methods

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the data source for these indicators. For more information about BRFSS, see the BRFSS website.