Association of total tooth loss with socio-behavioural health indicators in Korean elderly

Abstract

This study examined the association between total tooth loss, and socio-behavioural factors and general health indicators in elderly Koreans using national databases. Cross-sectional data for this study were from the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III), which was conducted among non-institutionalised civilians by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2005. KNHANES III used a stratified, multistage probability sampling design on a representative of total South Korean population, according to geographical areas, age and sex groups. Among them, 1091 subjects aged 65 years and above were identified as potential participants in this study. The dependent variable in this study was the self-reported total tooth loss. The independent variables consisted of the following four categories: demographic information, socio-behavioural factors, psychological factors and general health indicators. The data were weighted to adjust for the sampling complexity, and SPSS version 14 for Windows software was used for data analysis. There were significant differences in total tooth loss odds according to the socio-behavioural backgrounds (education and smoking), psychological conditions (perceived oral health) and general health status (diabetes and body mass index as underweight). This suggests that the total tooth loss is associated with the socio-economic status, health-related behaviour and general health. However, more extensive longitudinal data and research will be needed to better explain the relationship between the total tooth loss and these variables.

National dental policies and socio-demographic factors affecting changes in the incidence of periodontal treatments in Korean: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study from 2002–2013

“…The difference between the high-incidence age group and the low-incidence age group, excluding those less than 9 years of age, can be explained by limited accessibility to dental services [7, 22]. In 2013, with the expansion of dental insurance coverage to include dentures and implants the incidence of periodontal treatments was expected to increase for individuals over 70 years of age.…”

Tooth regeneration: a revolution in stomatology and evolution in regenerative medicine

“…In both children and adults, facial trauma may also lead to tooth loss. Teeth can be congenitally missing, as a phenotype of myriads craniofacial anomalies including cleft palate [4][5][6][7]. Resection of orofacial tumors may involve the extraction of teeth.…”

Stem Cells Nurturing Our Today and Tommorrow

“…Some initial success with dental tissue indicates that stem cell research may be of therapeutic use in dentistry as well, for instance, to regenerate individual tissue types, such as bone 26,27,28,29 , periodontal tissue 30,31,32 , or someday even entire teeth 33,34 . Fundamentally, two means of regenerating teeth are described.…”