Diabetes, Tooth Loss, and Dental Examinations

This Information for Action report from the New York State Department of Health focuses on the prevalence of complete tooth loss and receipt of routine dental examinations among New York State adults with and without diabetes.

Complete tooth loss is more than four times as common among adults with diabetes as among adults without diabetes. Although adults with diabetes are at an increased need for regular dental care compared to adults without diabetes, they are not more likely to receive it. The data suggest that public and private partners working in oral health or diabetes prevention and control should recognize the public health importance of early tooth loss and collaborate to promote routine preventive dental services, especially among adults with diabetes.