Factors Related to Tooth Loss during a Long-term Maintenance Program at Dental Clinics

Abstract

The present study was conducted in order to identify risk factors associated with tooth loss among patients who underwent a long-term maintenance program at dental clinics. Subjects were selected from patients who had received a maintenance program for more than 15 years and made the last dental visit during the 4 months between July and October, 2004, at one of two private dental surgeries in Osaka. Annual tooth loss for each subject was calculated from the difference in tooth number between the first and last visits. The mean age of the 371 subjects in this study was 67.5 years old, and the average length of maintenance, between the base line and the last visit, was 26.6 years. The average annual tooth loss was 0.086 for males and 0.075 for females, not including wisdom teeth. Multiple regression analysis showed that individuals with an older age, fewer teeth, more non-vital teeth, and a periodontal pocket depth of 4mm and over at the first visit, had a higher rate of annual tooth loss. Also, individuals with diabetes mellitus, a smoking habit, and those who made infrequent dental visits had a higher rate. The present study suggested that age, number of teeth, periodontal pocket depth, general health status, and pulpectomy could be risk factors associated with tooth loss in patients of dental surgeries during a long-term maintenance program.