Risk Factors for Tooth Loss in Patients Undergoing Mid-Long-Term Maintenance: A Retrospective Study.

Miho Inoue,Masamitsu Oshima,Yoshizo Matsuka,Hiroo Kawahara,Kazuo Okura

doi:10.3390/ijerph17176258

Miho Inoue, Masamitsu Oshima + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176258

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Abstract

In this retrospective study, we identified risk factors for tooth loss in patients undergoing mid–long-term maintenance therapy. We surveyed 674 maintenance patients for ≥5 years after active treatment who visited a dental clinic between January 2015 and December 2016. Of these, 265 were men (mean age 54.6 ± 8.0 years old) and 409 were women (mean age 54.0 ± 7.9 years old). Study variables included patient compliance, sex, number of teeth lost, cause of tooth loss (dental caries, periodontal disease, root fracture, others, vital or non-vital teeth), age at start of maintenance, number of remaining teeth at start of maintenance, smoking, use of salivary secretion inhibitors, presence of diabetes mellitus, condition of periodontal bone loss, and use of a removable denture. Most lost teeth were non-vital teeth (91.7% of all cases) and the most common cause of tooth loss was tooth fracture (62.1% of all cases). A statistically significant risk factors for tooth loss was number of remaining teeth at the start of maintenance (p = 0.003).

Highlights

Several dental studies have shown that the most common cause of tooth loss in adults is dental caries, followed by periodontal disease [1,2,3,4,5]
A major etiological factor underlying the pathogenesis of dental caries and periodontal disease is the formation of a biofilm on the tooth surface
Axelsson and Lindhe [6] and Axelsson et al [7] found that regular maintenance therapy reduced the incidence of dental caries and periodontal disease, significantly lowering the risk of tooth loss

Summary

Introduction

Several dental studies have shown that the most common cause of tooth loss in adults is dental caries, followed by periodontal disease [1,2,3,4,5]. The control of dental caries and periodontal disease is critical for the prevention of tooth loss. Axelsson and Lindhe [6] and Axelsson et al [7] found that regular maintenance therapy reduced the incidence of dental caries and periodontal disease, significantly lowering the risk of tooth loss. Other studies showed that the most frequent cause of tooth loss, even with maintenance therapy, was periodontal disease [14,15].

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