Three-Year Incidence of and Risk Predictors for Tooth Loss in Community-dwelling Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the three-year incidence of and risk predictors for tooth loss in community-dwelling adults. The subjects were 269 (128 males, 141 females) dentate adults living in a town in Niigata Prefecture who underwent oral examinations in both 1997 (baseline examination) and 2000 (follow-up examination). The follow-up rate was 37.2%. The mean age at baseline was 60.6 (SD = 12.8). A multiple-logistic regression model was used to quantify tooth-specific and person-level risk predictors for tooth loss using variables of the oral examination and questionnaire at baseline. The three-year incidence of tooth loss was 4.9% at tooth-level, 48% at person-level. The mean number of missing teeth per year was 0.33. The results of person-level multiple logistic regression analysis showed that tooth loss was more common in people with 10-27 present teeth, decayed teeth, oral symptoms, history of dental visit within a year and no habit of using an interdental brush or dental floss. Tooth-level multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence of tooth loss was higher in wisdom teeth, decayed teeth, crowned teeth, abutment teeth in bridges and teeth with mobility.