Abstract
The relationship between oral health status and bone mineral density has been poorly elucidated. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between oral health status and bone mineral density with data from healthy community-dwelling elderly individuals in Ohnan-cho, Shimane Japan who were recruited in 2019 for the Shimane Center for Community-Based Health Research and Education (CoHRE) study. The study included 702 participants (306 men and 396 women). The median age, bone mineral density, and number of remaining teeth were 69.0 years, 86.2%, and 26.0, respectively. The two groups (Low teeth group and High teeth group) showed significant differences in age, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, and masticatory function in men (p < 0.05). In women, age, number of untreated teeth, and masticatory function were significantly different (p < 0.05). The odds ratio of propensity score analysis for the association between the number of remaining teeth and bone mineral density was 27.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.86–414.9, p < 0.05). The number of remaining teeth could be associated with bone mineral density in the healthy elderly women, and no significant association was observed in men. Number of remaining teeth and bone mineral density may be interrelated, and oral care by dentists/dental hygienists may play an important role in maintaining bone mineral density in elderly women.
Highlights
In Japan, the population is aging more rapidly than in any other country in the world because of the world’s highest life expectancy and persistently low birth rate [1]
With regard to body mass index (BMI) as a criterion for evaluating body shape, the target population including both men and women was of the standard body shape category when evaluated based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification [31]
The target population of this study can be considered a group of healthy elderly individuals who visit dental clinics for routine dental checkups
Summary
In Japan, the population is aging more rapidly than in any other country in the world because of the world’s highest life expectancy and persistently low birth rate [1]. The population growth has shown a downward trend since 2008, but according to projections, by 2035, the number of individuals aged 65 years and above will reach 37.82 million, accounting for 33% of the total population, and the proportion is expected to increase to 39.9% by 2060 [2]. Osteoporosis is a common medical condition occurring in a super-aged society. Miyoshi et al reported that the number of patients with osteoporosis is increasing every year and is estimated to be 13 million in Japan [3]. Two million people experience fractures due to osteoporosis, and such fractures affect physical functions and psychological functions causing conditions such as depression [4]. Treatment as well as preventive countermeasures for fractures should be instituted, as more elderly individuals are expected to experience fractures in the coming decade [6]
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