The natural history of periodontal disease in humans: risk factors for tooth loss in caries-free subjects receiving no oral health care.
OBJECTIVE
No long-term studies have reported on risk factors for tooth loss in subjects without home or professional dental care. The purpose of this report is to identify potential risk factors for tooth loss among male Sri Lankan tea labourers who participated in a 20-year investigation of the natural history of periodontal disease.


METHODS
Data for this report were obtained from the 455 subjects who participated in multiple examinations over the 20-year period from 1970 to 1990. Analyses included data from interim examinations in 1971, 1973, 1977, 1982 and 1985. Oral health assessments included the following: (1) attachment levels in millimetres on all mesial and mesio-buccal surfaces, excluding third molars; (2) plaque index; (3) gingival index; (4) calculus index; (5) caries index; and (6) missing teeth. Other variables included age, history of smoking and betel nut use. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and multivariate repeated-measures modelling with generalized estimating equations.


RESULTS
Tooth loss was significantly dependent upon interactions between the mean attachment loss and betel nut use (Z=3.40; p=0.0007) and history of missing teeth (Z=-3.70; p=0.0002). The effect of attachment loss on tooth loss was increased in the presence of betel nut and diminished when teeth were already missing at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
History of missing teeth, betel nut use and increasing attachment loss were significant predictors of tooth loss over time. Betel nut use increased the effect of attachment loss on loss of teeth, while history of missing teeth diminished the effect of attachment loss on tooth loss.
Neely
Anthony L
AL
Department of Periodontology and Dental Hygiene, School of Dentistry, University of Detroit, Mercy, Detroit, MI 48219-0900, USA. neelya@udmercy.edu
Holford
Theodore R
TR
Löe
Harald
H
Anerud
Age
A
Boysen
Hans
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology