Association between tooth extraction due to infection and myocardial infarction

To explore whether the association between tooth extraction and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) varies by reason for extraction.

Men of the Oslo study of 1972/73 took part in the health survey in 2000 (n=6530) then aged 48-77 years. The present analysis is a nested case-control study of the men with a self-reported history of MI as cases (n=548) and randomly drawn controls (n=625). Reasons for extraction (self-reported) were recorded as periodontal infections (marginal periodontitis) or apical infection of a single tooth, and these were grouped as infection due to extractions. Extractions due to trauma or other causes were grouped as noninfection extractions.

More men with a history of MI had extracted teeth than controls (92.7% versus 88.6%; P=0.020). The prospective logistic regression analysis predicting nonfatal MI showed strength of association between infection extraction, no extraction, or noninfection extractions combined [odds ratio (OR)=1.64; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24, 2.16] in adjusted analysis and crude analysis (OR=1.73; 95% CI: 1.34, 2.23). Adjustment was made for known risk factors for MI and periodontitis in 1972/73, such as systolic blood pressure, smoking, total cholesterol, BMI, and education recorded in the 2000 screening.

Extractions due to dental infections were associated with nonfatal MI in elderly men.