title: Genetic and environmental factors in oral health among twins.
abstract: To date, studies on the contributions of genetic factors to oral health have been inconclusive. We hypothesized that major dental diseases show a significant genetic component. The study was based on self-reported oral health among young adult twins. The data were derived from the fourth wave of the longitudinal FinnTwin16 study, in which participants completed a questionnaire in 2000-2002 enquiring about the number of filled teeth and the prevalence of gingival bleeding. We used quantitative genetic modeling, based on the genetic similarity of identical and non-identical twins, to calculate the most probable model for both filled teeth and gingival bleeding. The models revealed a strong genetic component behind the number of filled teeth, differing between males (49%) and females (68%), and a weaker genetic component affecting gingival bleeding, being similar for males and females (32%). Genetic factors contribute to inter-individual differences in oral health among young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Public Health, PL 41, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rintakoski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murtomaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002012:Bruxism / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000235:genetics*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000473:pathology; D009909:Oral Health; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012737:Sex Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014098:Toothache / Q000235:genetics; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult