What typically happens with different treatment choices — and with no treatment — for common dental conditions, at 1, 5, and 10 years. Every figure is an evidence-informed estimate grounded in the peer-reviewed literature and professional-body guidance.
Sharp or throbbing tooth pain
~15% of US adults annually
Early decay that could progress
~30% of US adults
Gum disease with bone loss
~46% of US adults
Restoration failure needing replacement
~25% of restorations fail within 5yr
Infection around an impacted tooth
~20% of wisdom-tooth carriers
Public outcomes are shown only where the direction is supported by the strongest evidence tiers — Cochrane systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses — never vendor-sponsored or single-practice data.
We always show the natural history of the untreated condition so you can weigh it against active treatment.
Outcomes change over time. We report short- and long-term success and risk, not a single snapshot.
Each figure is a directional, rounded estimate consistent with the published literature and professional-body guidance (Cochrane Oral Health, ADA, AAE, AAP, AAOMS) — not a number quoted from one specific study.
AB 3030: all content is information, not diagnosis. SB 1120: AI-assisted clinical content is reviewed by our clinical council. Figures are evidence-informed population-level estimates — your individual risk depends on health history, medications, and anatomy not captured in population studies. See our methodology for how these ranges are derived and reviewed.