By the Numbers

January 31, 2011

A toothpick

is the object most often choked on by Americans. Since 1900, 17,000 people have died from choking on toothpicks, including novelist Sherwood Anderson.

Toothpick

8 days

The amount of time sharks’ teeth last before being replaced by the next row.

Shark

The percentage of metal-based fixed restorations prescribed in 1997.

80%

The percentage of metal-based fixed restorations prescribed in 2010.

43%

1 out of 3

of the last 2,000,000 shades prescribed were A2 and A3.

1 out of 142

of the last 2,000,000 shades prescribed were D4.

VITA classical A1–D4 shades

The recommended distance to keep your toothbrush from your toilet to avoid airborne particles from the flush.

Six feet

1 out of 2

dentists in Massachusetts sent a case to Glidewell in 2010.

Massachusetts

7,300

BruxZir® crown & bridge units were ordered the week of Dec. 13, 2010, making it the fastest-growing product in lab history.

BruxZir® crown & bridge