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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
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Tooth Loss and 12-Year Mortality Risk in 8494 Older Adults From Ireland.
Lewis Winning1,2, Siobhan Scarlett2, Mark Ward2
1Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|May 19, 2025
Summary
Tooth loss, or edentulism, is linked to increased mortality risk in older Irish adults. This study found edentulism significantly associated with higher all-cause, respiratory, and cancer mortality.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Oral Health Research
Background:
- Tooth loss is a common issue in aging populations.
- The association between tooth loss and mortality requires further investigation, particularly in specific demographic groups.
- Understanding these links can inform public health strategies for older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between tooth loss and all-cause mortality.
- To investigate the association between tooth loss and cause-specific mortality (respiratory, cancer, cardiovascular) in older Irish adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 8494 participants in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).
- Linked survey data to death registration records for follow-up until January 2022.
- Employed Cox proportional hazards regressions and competing risk survival analyses to assess mortality risks.
Main Results:
- Edentulous participants (17.7%) showed a 42% higher hazard ratio for all-cause mortality compared to those with natural teeth and no dentures.
- Edentulism was significantly associated with increased respiratory mortality (SHR=1.57) and cancer mortality (SHR=1.31).
- No significant association was found between edentulism and cardiovascular mortality.
Conclusions:
- Edentulism is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in older Irish adults.
- Significant links exist between tooth loss and increased respiratory and cancer mortality.
- Findings highlight the importance of oral health in overall health outcomes for the elderly.
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