More than half UK adults with dental disease by 2050
Dental disease will be present in more than half of the UK’s adult population by 2050, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Greenwich and Cape Western Reserve University put data from the UK’s 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey (ADHS) into a simulation model. The model used complex equations to create the projections of tooth decay and gum disease. Participants were divided into groups according to their oral health status. Then, each group was split further into three categories depending on the presence and severity of the person’s condition.
Based on these results, they projected that the number of people living with gum disease will increase from 42 per cent of the UK’s population to 54 per cent by 2050. The number of people exhibiting signs of gum disease is expected to rise from 25.7 million in 2020 to 28 million by 2050. The number of people with gum tissue loss alone is projected to increase from 18.7 million in 2020 to nearly 21 million by 2050.
The number of over-60s with tooth decay is projected to nearly double
For adults who will be aged 16 to 59 in the year 2050, the outlook is somewhat positive. The number of people with tooth decay is expected to decrease slightly from 15.7 million in 2020 to 15.5 million by 2050 – a 1.5 per cent decline. But for those who will be aged 60 and over in 2050, the outlook is less positive. The number of over-60s with tooth decay is projected to nearly double from five million in 2020 to 9.6 million by 2050.
Overall, the burden of tooth decay and gum diseases is anticipated to shift from younger adults (16–59 years) to older adults. It highlights how important it is that people currently in their 30s and 40s have access to good dental care now – and as they age.