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Medical conditions associated with missing teeth and edentulism in the institutionalized elderly
Author(s) -
Hamasha Abed AlHadi,
Hand Jed S.,
Levy Steven M.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1998.tb00917.x
Subject(s) - edentulism , medicine , medical history , disease , tooth loss , medical record , dentistry , population , past medical history , heart failure , oral health , environmental health
Several studies have reported the prevalence of medical conditions or investigated the relationships between the oral health status and general health conditions in the elderly. However, the relationship between medical conditions and oral health among the elderly is not well‐described. Previous studies have not clearly identified a consistent association between medical conditions and oral health, specifically edentuIism and tooth loss. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between medical conditions and oral health, as assessed by edentulism and missing teeth, in an institutionalized elderly population. A systematic sample (n = 175), stratified by age and sex, was drawn from nursing home patients treated by the University of low'as Geriatric Mobile Unit (GMU) team. Data were extracted from GMU dental records, regarding history of medical conditions, medications, dental history, dentate status, and tooth‐by‐tooth conditions. Mean numbers of missing teeth were significantly higher among those who had a history of atherosclerotic vascular disease, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and joint disease. Subjects who had a history of atherosclerotic vascular disease, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and joint disease were more likely to be edentulous than subjects who did not have a history of those diseases. The biological basis for these relationships between dentate status and systemic medical conditions is unclear and warrants further study.