Risk indicators for missing teeth in working-age Pomeranians--an evaluation of high-risk populations.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to examine whether psychosocial conditions for general health described in the public health literature are also reflected in tooth loss.


METHODS
The relation of psychosocial factors to missing teeth was evaluated among 2,501 individuals aged 25 to 59 years from the population-based cross-sectional Study of Health in Pomerania using logistic regression analyses. The case group included 15 percent of participants of each 5-year age group with the highest number of missing teeth.


RESULTS
Unemployment, dose-dependent current and former smoking, a poor general health status, and a longer time since the last dental appointment were significant risk indicators for missing teeth. Alcohol consumption, use of interdental cleaning products, and checkup as the reason for the last dental visit were protective. Women with low education and low income were identified as a high-risk group for missing teeth by the three-way interaction between gender, school education, and household income. The effect of marital status was modified by gender: being single was a risk indicator for men but it was protective for women.


CONCLUSIONS
The study supports the hypothesis that psychosocial conditions that affect health status as described in the general public health literature also have an effect on tooth loss. Strategies to prevent tooth loss may be expeditiously implemented in combination with approaches to prevent other health-related problems.
Mundt
Torsten
T
Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Biomaterials, Center of Oral Health, University of Greifswald, Germany. mundt@uni-greifswald.de
Schwahn
Christian
C
Mack
Florian
F
Polzer
Ines
I
Samietz
Stefanie
S
Kocher
Thomas
T
Biffar
Reiner
R
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009909:Oral Health; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014478:Unemployment