As we age, our teeth undergo natural wear and tear. By age 70, many adults have lost at least some of their natural teeth. However, with proper dental care and maintenance, most 70-year-olds can retain a functional set of natural and/or prosthetic teeth. So how many teeth should a 70 year old have? Let’s take a closer look.
Normal Number of Teeth
Most children have 20 primary (baby) teeth, which eventually fall out and are replaced by 32 permanent adult teeth. The 32 permanent adult teeth typically include the following:
– 8 incisors
– 4 canines
– 8 premolars
– 12 molars
This brings the full complement of permanent adult teeth to 32. As we age, it’s common to lose some of these permanent teeth due to decay, injury, periodontal disease, or other causes. However, losing teeth is not an inevitable part of aging. With proper preventive dental care and oral hygiene habits, it’s possible to keep most or all of your natural teeth for life.
Tooth Loss in Older Adults
Despite the potential to maintain a full set of natural teeth for life, many older adults experience at least some tooth loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 65:
– 13% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth
– 46% of adults have lost 6 or more teeth
– 28% of adults have lost 1-5 teeth
This tooth loss is due to a combination of factors, including:
– Poor preventive dental care earlier in life
– Lack of access to routine professional dental care
– Genetic predisposition to tooth decay or periodontal disease
– Chronic medical conditions that affect oral health
– Medications that cause dry mouth or dental issues as side effects
The end result is that many older adults are missing some or all of their natural permanent teeth by age 70.
Functional Number of Teeth at Age 70
While the ideal number of natural permanent teeth for a 70 year old is around 24-28, some tooth loss is reasonably common at this age. However, there are benchmarks for how many teeth are needed to function adequately and enjoy a good quality of life.
According to dental experts, the functional number of teeth needed by age 70 is about 20-22. This typically includes:
- At least 8-10 pairs of posterior teeth (premolars and molars) for adequate chewing and eating
- At least 4-6 pairs of anterior teeth (incisors and canines) for speech and appearance
With 20-22 teeth strategically placed around the upper and lower dental arches, people can comfortably chew, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Dropping below 20 total teeth is associated with impaired oral function and nutrition. However, there are excellent prosthetic options like bridges, partials, and implants to replace any missing teeth and restore oral health and function.
Table 1: Functional Number of Teeth Guidelines for Age 70
| Age | Ideal Number of Natural Teeth | Functional Number of Teeth Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 70 years old | 24-28 | 20-22 |
Prosthetic Tooth Replacement
For older adults who are missing teeth, there are various tooth replacement options to close gaps, restore chewing function, and create an attractive smile:
Dental Implants
Dental implants involve placing artificial tooth roots made of titanium into the jawbone. Implants fuse seamlessly with the bone and can securely support crowns, bridges, or dentures. Implants are the ideal permanent tooth replacement option.
Dental Bridges
Bridges span empty spaces using artificial teeth fused between custom-made crowns cemented onto natural teeth adjacent to the gap. Bridges can beautifully restore smiles with one or more missing teeth.
Removable Partial Dentures
Partial dentures consist of custom-designed plastic bases holding replacement teeth. The base is removably snapped onto prepared natural teeth and can fill in numerous missing teeth.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are removable custom-made appliances with full sets of replacement teeth. They rest on the gums and are retained by suction. Complete upper and lower dentures can beautifully restore function and aesthetics when all teeth are missing.
With good oral hygiene and professional care, prosthetic restorations can serve patients for many years. They can be used alone or in combination with remaining natural teeth to meet an individual patient’s needs and preferences.
Importance of Routine Dental Care
To retain the maximum number of natural teeth and oral health into the golden years, routine professional dental care and daily home care are essential. Recommended preventive dental care guidelines for older adults include:
– Professional teeth cleaning/scaling every 6 months
– Daily brushing twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoridated toothpaste
– Daily flossing to remove plaque from between teeth
– Use of antimicrobial mouth rinses to reduce bacteria
– Denture cleaning if wearing full or partial dentures
– Regular dental exams to catch problems early
With diligent oral hygiene and professional dental cleanings, even high-risk adults can successfully manage conditions like tooth decay and periodontal disease. This maximizes the chances of retaining 20-22 functional natural teeth by the age of 70.
Outlook for Dental Health in Older Age
With people living longer than ever, maintaining good oral health into the 70s, 80s, and beyond is an increasing priority. Some key pointers for lifelong dental health include:
– Developing good daily preventive oral care habits early on
– Sticking to regular professional teeth cleaning/dental checkups
– Not delaying or avoiding necessary dental treatment
– Quitting smoking and limiting sugary foods/drinks
– Managing chronic medical conditions like diabetes
– Updating old dental work like fillings, crowns, and dentures
While some degree of tooth loss is common by 70, retaining 20-22 teeth is very achievable. Seniors can then live active, nourishing lives with a mix of natural and prosthetic teeth. With a little planning and TLC, your smile can remain healthy, confident, and vibrant well into old age.
Conclusion
While the ideal number of permanent teeth for adults is 32, most 70 year olds have experienced some degree of tooth loss. However, 20-22 total teeth is considered a functional number to allow proper chewing, nutrition, speech and an attractive smile into older age. Through good daily oral hygiene, regular dental visits, prompt treatment, and prosthetic tooth replacements as needed, maintaining excellent dental health and quality of life is an achievable goal for senior citizens. With advancements in modern dentistry, people can even begin their 70s with a full set of natural or prosthetic teeth.