title: Postmenopausal tooth loss. Contributions to edentulism by osteoporosis and cigarette smoking.
abstract: Two hundred eight white women, aged 60 to 69 years, had acquired 218 upper or lower full dentures. Each woman's smoking habits and current osteoporosis severity (percent cortical area [PCA] at metacarpal midshaft) were compared with the age at which she had acquired each full denture. Among osteoporotic women (PCA less than 70%) who still had their natural teeth at age 50 years, 44% had required a new full denture before age 60 compared with 15% of nonosteoporotic women (PCA greater than 80). Different denture requirements between these groups had not existed before age 50 but had continued after age 60. Fifty-two percent of smokers, 26% of nonsmokers, and only 8% of nonosteoporotic nonsmokers had required dentures since age 50. These observations strongly suggest that middle-aged women may be more likely to retain their teeth if they avoid smoking and undertake a program effective in preventing progression of osteoporosis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000209:etiology*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications*