The Impact of Tooth Mobility and Furcation Involvement on Tooth Loss: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze and quantify the independent effects of tooth mobility and furcation involvement on the probability of tooth loss in a large patient cohort, after controlling for patient-level confounding factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from 16,756 patients. Primary predictors were tooth mobility and furcation involvement. The primary outcome was tooth loss. A multivariable logistic regression model, adjusting for confounders (age, gender, smoking, diabetes), was developed to calculate Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A significant dose-response relationship was observed between the severity of both mobility and furcation involvement and the rate of tooth loss (p < 0.001). After multivariable adjustment, both remained statistically significant predictors (p < 0.001). Compared to no mobility, the odds of tooth loss for Class 3 mobility were 3.99 times higher (OR = 3.99; 95% CI: 3.58-4.45). Compared to no furcation involvement, the odds for Grade 3 involvement were 2.50 times higher (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 2.19-2.85). Diabetes, smoking, male gender, and increasing age were also significant risk factors. Conclusions: Tooth mobility and furcation involvement are independent predictors of future tooth loss. These findings highlight the critical importance of thoroughly assessing mobility and furcation defects for patient risk assessment, prognosis, and treatment planning.