title: Increased preventive practices lead to greater tooth retention.
abstract: Prior research has rarely examined the impact of ADA-recommended preventive practices on tooth retention. We hypothesized that better oral hygiene leads to increased tooth retention. We examined the association of cross-sectional and long-term assessments of preventive practices, as well as various combinations of hygiene practices, with tooth retention. Among 736 male participants in the VA Dental Longitudinal Study, we utilized cross-sectional and longitudinal self-reports of toothbrushing, dental floss use, annual prophylaxis, and combinations of such behaviors, and examined their association with clinically assessed numbers of teeth. Baseline and long-term hygiene behaviors (except brushing) were associated with an increased baseline number of teeth and decreased subsequent tooth loss. Use of multiple hygiene behaviors was associated with greater tooth retention, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Adherence to ADA recommendations for preventive care leads to better oral health, and consistently practicing preventive behaviors over the long term confers greater benefits than doing so over the short term.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, VAMC, 200 Springs Road, Building 70 (152), Bedford, MA 01730, USA. nkressin@bu.edu
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Kressin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Boehmer
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nunn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000571:American Dental Association; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States