Number of Teeth and Mortality Risk in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Abstract

Background Findings from several studies suggested an association between oral health and several health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, poor quality of life, and mortality. Using data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), we tested the hypothesis that number of teeth is indicative of mortality risk independent of other confounders. Methods Dentists conducted a standardized oral examination that included tooth count, tooth with coronal and cervical caries count, and gingival and periodontal index. Blood tests used in the analysis included fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and white blood cell counts. Physical activity, skin fold thickness, body mass index and chronic diseases were also evaluated. Results Of the 500 BLSA participants evaluated, 198 died an average of 130 (±75) months postdental evaluation, and 302 survivors were followed for a mean of 185 (±90) months. Based on multivariate Cox regression models, being edentulous or having than 20 teeth was independently associated with mortality. Conclusion The results of this study support the notion that number of teeth is a significant and independent risk indicator for early mortality. These findings suggest that the improvement of oral health may have a positive impact on general health and may delay mortality.

The association between individual and contextual factors and functional dentition status among adults in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil: a multilevel study

“…The hypotheses for explaining this phenomenon could include the higher caries rate among adolescent girls as opposed to boys and the greater use of dental services by women as compared to men, both of which factors favor early tooth loss, especially due to the option for tooth extraction rather than conservative treatment among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups 2,26,38 .…”

“…This situation directly and indirectly influences the individual's overall health. Compromised masticatory function affects quality of diet, increasing the risk of various health problems like cardiovascular diseases, physical disabilities and even death 2,3 . Edentulous individuals show lower consumption of important macro and micronutrients as compared to those with functional dentition 4,5 .…”

Association between self-reported oral health, tooth loss and atherosclerotic burden

“…Epidemiological studies have suggested that chronic periodontal disease, [1][2][3][4] lesions of endodontic origin 5 and tooth loss 6 are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.…”

Is there a correlation between the periodontitis-related systemic inflammatory burden and future cardiovascular events’ risk? A preliminary report

“…19 Thus, it was thought that number/loss of teeth might have an association with CVD. 20,21 Studies have revealed a relationship between loss of teeth and CVD mortality. 22 Moreover, Holmlund 19 have investigated this relationship with stratification of the NT (<10, 10-14 teeth, [15][16][17][18][19] teeth etc.…”