Adults in the U.S. miss more than 243 million work and school hours each year because of oral health problems.
The lost hours and productivity account for an estimated $45 billion loss annually, according to a Feb. 6 report by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
Oral health problems, untreated dental diseases and unplanned dental visits have a much larger impact on individuals with lower incomes, no dental insurance and less education.
Adults reported missing 182.6 million hours of productivity for their own oral pain and unplanned dental visits, 38.5 million hours for their children and 22 million hours for other adults in their care.
The report is based on findings from the institute's State of Oral Health Equity in America, an annual, nationally representative survey of 5,240 adults about knowledge, attitudes, experiences and behaviors related to oral health.