Factors Associated with Tooth Loss in General Population of Bialystok, Poland

The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for tooth loss in the population of the city of Bialystok, in north-eastern Poland, taking into account the entire population and different age groups. The study included 1138 subjects divided into three subgroups: 20-44 years, 45-64 years, and 65-79 years. Participants were classified according to the number of teeth lost (0-8 vs. 9-28). Socio-economic variables, smoking history, and dental habits were collected through a questionnaire. Medical examinations provided data on the body mass index and the fasting blood glucose level. Data were statistically analysed using Mann-Whitney U, Student's t, chi² tests, and binary logistic regression, p < 0.05.

For the general population, being female (OR 1.38, 1.07-1.79, p = 0.015), having secondary education (OR 4.18, Cl 2.97-5.87, p < 0.000), higher body mass index (OR 1.13, Cl 1.10-1.17, p < 0.000), higher fasting blood glucose level (OR 1.03 1.03-1.04, p < 0.000), being former smoker (OR 1.72, Cl 1.29-2.31, p < 0.000), ever smoker (OR 1.69, Cl 1.29-2.20, p < 0.000), current smoker (OR 1.62, Cl 1.15-2.29, p < 0.006), longer smoking period (OR 1.11, Cl 1.09-1.14, p < 0.000), last visit to the dentist over a year ago (OR 1.92, Cl 0.44-2.58, p < 0.000) and tooth brushing less than two times a day (OR 1.6, Cl 1.14-2.23, p < 0.006) were associated with losing more than 8 teeth. In the subgroup aged 20-44 years, only smoking duration was a risk factor for tooth loss (p = 0.02). For the middle-aged and oldest groups, education level (respectively p < 0.001, and p = 0.001), body mass index (respectively, p < 0.001, and p = 0.037), smoking status ever/former/current (respectively p < 0.001 and p = 0.002), smoking status never/ever (respectively p < 0.001 and p = 0.009), smoking duration (p < 0.001) were related to tooth loss. Additionally, in the elderly group, fasting blood glucose level (p = 0.044) and frequency of dental visits (p = 0.007) were related to tooth loss. We concluded that in the evaluated population, tooth loss was associated with socio-demographic, medical, and behavioural factors.