Association between tooth loss and adherence to oral maintenance in a dental clinic: A retrospective study of more than 20 years.

Abstract

The relationship between adherence to professional oral maintenance visits and tooth loss is generally accepted in periodontal treatment; however, this relationship has not been clarified in general dental practices. We evaluated the effectiveness of adherence to professional maintenance by a retrospective survey in a private practice. We retrospectively extracted data of 395 patients in a general dental practice who had been followed for more than 20 years. For comparisons, two patient groups were created based on oral maintenance rates: a high- (≥75%) and a low- (<75%) adherence groups. Additionally, multiple logistic regression analysis for tooth loss was conducted with the same two adherence groups and three adherence groups (<50%, ≥50% and <75% and ≥75%), adjusting with risk factors including sex, age, decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), periodontal status, smoking status, and diabetes at the beginning of maintenance. The number of teeth lost and increased DMFT over time were significantly lower in the high-adherence group than in the low-adherence group. Multiple logistic regression analysis for tooth loss in the two adherence groups yielded an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 6.50 (3.73-11.32) in the low-adherence group relative to the high-adherence group. Further analysis with the three adherence groups showed highest risk in the low-adherence group and a higher risk in the moderate-adherence group than the high-adherence group. Patients with high adherence to maintenance schedules for more than 20 years demonstrated significantly less tooth loss. Dental practitioners should promote high adherence to professional maintenance in general dental practices.