Regular dental visits, periodontitis, tooth loss, and atherosclerosis: The Ohasama study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We aimed to explore the association between regular dental visits and atherosclerosis and between periodontitis, number of remaining teeth, and atherosclerosis among community dwellers in Japan.

BACKGROUND:

Few studies have examined the association between regular dental visits, periodontitis, tooth loss, and atherosclerosis in community dwellers in Japan.

METHODS:

The participants of this cross-sectional study included community dwellers aged ≥55 years and residing in Ohasama. Exposure variables were regular dental visits; periodontitis, defined as radiographic alveolar bone loss (BL); the Centers for Disease Control/American Academy of Periodontology (CDC/AAP) classification; and number of remaining teeth. The primary outcome was atherosclerosis, defined as maximum carotid intima-media thickness ≥1.1 mm or confirmation of atheromatous plaque.

RESULTS:

Of 602 participants, 117 had atherosclerosis. In the multivariate model, compared to those with regular dental visits, the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of atherosclerosis among those with the absence of regular dental visits was 2.16 (1.03-4.49). Regarding BL-max, compared with those in the first quartile, ORs (95% CIs) of those in the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 1.15 (0.65-2.30), 0.65 (0.32-1.35), and 1.57 (0.81-3.01), respectively. Regarding CDC/AAP classification, compared to those with no or mild periodontitis, ORs (95% CIs) for those with moderate and severe periodontitis were 2.48 (0.61-10.1) and 4.26 (1.01-17.5), respectively. Regarding the number of remaining teeth, compared to those with ≥20 teeth, ORs (95%CIs) for those with 10-19 and 1-9 teeth were 1.77 (1.004-3.12) and 0.96 (0.52-1.80), respectively.

CONCLUSION:

The absence of regular dental visits and presence of periodontitis are associated with atherosclerosis among community dwellers in Japan.

• Authors: Sho Yamada, Takamasa Komiyama, Takashi Ohi, Takahisa Murakami, Yoshitada Miyoshi, Kosei Endo, Takako Hiratsuka, Azusa Hara, Michihiro Satoh, Yukako Tatsumi, Ryusuke Inoue, Kei Asayama, Masahiro Kikuya, Atsushi Hozawa, Hirohito Metoki, Yutaka Imai, Takayoshi Ohkubo, Yoshinori Hattori
• Journal: Journal of periodontal research (J Periodontal Res) Vol. 57 Issue 3 Pg. 615-622 (Jun 2022) ISSN: 1600-0765 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35388479 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Periodontal Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Topics

• Atherosclerosis (complications, epidemiology)
• Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Humans
• Periodontitis (complications, epidemiology)
• Tooth Loss (complications, epidemiology)