Differences in the axonal compositions of the human mandibular nerve between dentulous and edentulous jaws.
(17/234)
We examined the human mandibular nerve to find differences in the composition of nerve fiber axons between dentulous and edentulous jaws Using Goto's modification of Masson-Goldner's method. We discovered that the edentulous jaw did not contain any large size axons, compared with the dentulous jaw. This can be considered as evidence that the larger fibers innervating the periodontal ligament decreased degenerated after tooth loss. (+info)
The relationship between dental status, food selection, nutrient intake, nutritional status, and body mass index in older people.
(18/234)
This paper reviewed the findings from a national survey in Great Britain which assessed whether dental status affected older people's food selection, nutrient intake, and nutritional status. The survey analyzed national random samples of free-living and institution subjects for dental examination, interview, and four-day food diary as well as blood and urine tests In the free-living sample, intakes of non-starch polysaccharides, protein, calcium, non-heme iron, niacin, and vitamin C were significantly lower in edentulous as compared to dentate subjects. People with 21 or more teeth consumed more of most nutrients, particularly non-starch polysaccharides. This relationship in intake was not apparent in the hematological analysis. Plasma ascorbate and retinol were the only analytes significantly associated with dental status. Having 21 or more teeth increased the likelihood of having an acceptable body mass index (BMI). Thus, maintaining a natural and functional dentition defined as having more than twenty teeth into old age plays an important role in having a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, a satisfactory nutritional status, and an acceptable BMI. (+info)
Tooth loss, pancreatic cancer, and Helicobacter pylori.
(19/234)
BACKGROUND: Poor dental health has been associated with increased risks of oral, esophageal, and gastric cancer and may also be associated with pancreatic cancer. In addition, Helicobacter pylori has been found in dental plaque and has been associated with periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate prospectively the relation between dentition history and pancreatic cancer in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study cohort in Finland and the association between dentition history and H. pylori seropositivity in a cross-sectional sample of subjects without cancer (n = 475) from the same cohort. DESIGN: Of the 29,104 male smokers aged 50-69 y in the cohort for whom there were complete data, 174 developed pancreatic cancer from 1985 to 1997. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate age-, smoking-, education-, urban living-, and height-adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CIs for pancreatic cancer, and logistic regression models were used to estimate age- and education-adjusted odds ratios for H. pylori carriage. RESULTS: Tooth loss was positively associated with pancreatic cancer (edentulous compared with missing 0-10 teeth: hazard ratio = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.46; P for trend = 0.02) but was not significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity (edentulous compared with missing 0-10 teeth: odds ratio = 1.30; 95% CI: 0.73, 2.32; P for trend = 0.37). CONCLUSION: Additional studies are needed to evaluate the association between tooth loss and pancreatic cancer, as well as cancers at other gastrointestinal sites, particularly with respect to possible biological mechanisms. (+info)
Relationship between periodontal disease, tooth loss, and carotid artery plaque: the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study (INVEST).
(20/234)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic infections, including periodontal infections, may predispose to cardiovascular disease. The present study investigates the relationship of periodontal disease and tooth loss with subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: We enrolled 711 subjects with a mean age of 66+/-9 years and no history of stroke or myocardial infarction in the Oral Infections and Vascular Disease Epidemiology Study. Subjects received a comprehensive periodontal examination, extensive in-person cardiovascular disease risk factor measurements, and a carotid scan using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. Regression models were adjusted for conventional risk factors (age, sex, smoking, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, race-ethnicity, education, physical activity) and markers of cultural background, healthy lifestyle, and psychosocial health. RESULTS: Measures of both current and cumulative periodontitis became more severe as tooth loss increased. A significant association was observed between tooth loss levels and carotid artery plaque prevalence. Among those with 0 to 9 missing teeth, 46% had carotid artery plaque, whereas among those with >or=10 missing teeth, carotid artery plaque prevalence was approximately 60% (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that tooth loss is a marker of past periodontal disease in this population and is related to subclinical atherosclerosis, thereby providing a potential pathway for a relationship with clinical events. (+info)
Implants in handicapped patients.
(21/234)
Implantology as an approach for replacing missing teeth has become a generalized practice in recent years. The present study describes the results of placing 67 implants in 18 patients with various degrees of mental and physical impediments. Only four implants were lost, though in all cases fixed-prosthesis oral rehabilitation was achieved -- the implant failure rate (5.6%) being similar to that observed in healthy individuals. A description is provided of the course of different clinical cases illustrating the rehabilitation process, from implant placement to completion of the prosthesis. In our opinion, implantology may constitute a valid management alternative to be taken into consideration in the oral rehabilitation of handicapped patients. The use of implants should be evaluated taking into account the particular characteristics of each individual patient. (+info)
The impact of restorative treatment on tooth loss prevention.
(22/234)
A cross-sectional study was carried out to analyze tooth loss resulting from caries in relation to the number of times the extracted tooth had been restored, the type of caries diagnosed (primary or secondary), and socioeconomic indicators of patients from the city of Recife, Brazil. Ten public health centres and ten centres associated with health insurance companies were randomly selected. The size of the sample was calculated using a standard error of 2.5%. A confidence interval of 95% and a 50% prevalence of reasons for extractions were used for calculating the sample. The minimum size of the sample for meeting these requirements was 381 patients. Patients were randomly selected from the list of adults registered at each centre. A total of 410 patients were invited to take part in the study. The response rate was 100%, but 6 patients were excluded due to incompleteness of data in the questionnaire applied. An assessment was made to obtain the number of decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT index) and the reasons for extraction. The results showed a highly significant (p < 0.001) relationship between the number of times the tooth indicated for extraction had been restored and the reason for extraction being caries. Furthermore, the majority of teeth extracted due to caries had been restored two or more times. A highly statistically significant association was also observed between one indicator of use of dental services (F/DMFT) and extraction due to caries (p < 0.001). The findings questioned the belief that tooth loss can be prevented in the general population by merely providing restorative treatment. (+info)
Public health and aging: retention of natural teeth among older adults--United States, 2002.
(23/234)
During the past several decades, the percentage of older adults who have retained their natural teeth has increased steadily. This trend is expected to continue, resulting in improved oral function and quality of life. To estimate the prevalences of tooth retention and total tooth loss in 2002 among adults aged >/=65 years, CDC analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that in 26 (52%) states, more than half of older adults reported having most (i.e., losing five or fewer) of their natural teeth. However, rates varied substantially among states and by selected characteristics. With tooth retention, older adults remain at risk for dental caries (i.e., tooth decay) and periodontal disease. To help adults maintain healthy teeth for life, community-based strategies should promote healthy behaviors, optimal use of fluoride, timely examinations and clinical services, and increased research into preventing oral diseases and promoting oral health among adults. (+info)
Social determinants of tooth loss.
(24/234)
OBJECTIVES: To quantify racial and socioeconomic status (SES) disparities in oral health, as measured by tooth loss, and to determine the role of dental care use and other factors in explaining disparities. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: The Florida Dental Care Study, comprising African Americans (AAs) and non-Hispanic whites 45 years old or older who had at least one tooth. STUDY DESIGN: We used a prospective cohort design. Relevant population characteristics were grouped by predisposing, enabling, and need variables. The key outcome was tooth loss, a leading measure of a population's oral health, looked at before and after entering the dental care system. Tooth-specific data were used to increase inferential power by relating the loss of individual teeth to the disease level on those teeth. DATA COLLECTION METHODS: In-person interviews and clinical examinations were done at baseline, 24, and 48 months, with telephone interviews every 6 months. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: African Americans and persons of lower SES reported more new dental symptoms, but were less likely to obtain dental care. When they did receive care, they were more likely to experience tooth loss and less likely to report that dentists had discussed alternative treatments with them. At the first stage of analysis, differences in disease severity and new symptoms explained tooth loss disparities. Racial and SES differences in attitudes toward tooth loss and dental care were not contributory. Because almost all tooth loss occurs by means of dental extraction, the total effects of race and SES on tooth loss were artificially minimized unless disparities in dental care use were taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: Race and SES are strong determinants of tooth loss. African Americans and lower SES persons had fewer teeth at baseline and still lost more teeth after baseline. Tooth-specific case-mix adjustment appears, statistically, to explain social disparity variation in tooth loss. However, when social disparities in dental care use are taken into account, social disparities in tooth loss that are not directly due to clinical circumstance become evident. This is because AAs and lower SES persons are more likely to receive a dental extraction once they enter the dental care system, given the same disease extent and severity. This phenomenon underscores the importance of understanding how disparities in health care use, dental insurance coverage, and service receipt contribute to disparities in health. Absent such understanding, the total effects of race and SES on health can be underestimated. (+info)