Dental amalgam restorations in nationally representative sample of US population aged ≥15 years: NHANES 2011–2016

Objectives: Estimate the proportion of amalgam restorations among the US population. Methods: Data from ≥15 year old clinically examined dentate participants in three 2-year survey cycles (NHANES 2011–2016) were analyzed. The 2015–2016 data include restorative material type, allowing for the first time a US estimate of amalgam-restored teeth. Results: The percent of the US population with at least one restoration (65.8 ± 1.4) was relatively constant in 2011–2016. Among those with restored teeth, the mean number of teeth with amalgam restorations increased with age from 4.71 among 15–24 year olds to 7.03 among those ≥75 years. Non-Hispanic Whites with restored teeth had the highest mean of teeth with amalgam restorations (5.94), while non-Hispanic Blacks had the lowest (5.08). Conclusion: In 2015–2016, about half (51.5 percent) of restored teeth in the US population contained amalgam. Amalgam presence varied by age, tooth type, and race/ethnicity, but not by sex. These estimates can be used to assess future US caries prevention and dental amalgam reduction efforts.