Advanced tooth loss can often indicate that a person has a history of inflammatory oral diseases. In an extensive cohort study, carried out by the University of Helsinki (Finland) in collaboration with The National Institute for Health and Welfare, an association was found between tooth loss and future cardiovascular events, diabetesand death.

Lead researcher John Liljestrand suggests that the number of missing teeth could be a useful additional indicator for general medical practitioners, when individual risk factors for chronic diseases are assessed.

The manuscript is published in the Journal of Dental Research.

The National FINRISK 1997 Study is a Finnish population-based survey of 8,446 subjects, aged 25 - 75, who filled a comprehensive questionnaire and participated in clinical examinations. The number of missing teeth was recorded at a baseline and information on incident disease events and deaths was obtained via national registers in a 13 year follow-up.

The results of the study showed:

• More than five missing teeth increased the risk for coronary heart disease events and myocardial infarctions as much as 140 %.
• More than nine missing teeth indicated an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (51 %), diabetes (31 %) and death (37 %).

Corresponding risks for edentulous subjects were 40-68 %. Traditional risk factors were taken into account in the statistical analyses. Adding information on missing teeth to established risk factors improved the risk discrimination of death.

Noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, are the most common cause of death worldwide. They are known to associate with inflammatory oral diseases, such as periodontitis. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease in the tooth supporting tissues, which appears as gingival bleeding, increased tooth mobility and deepened periodontal pockets. It may result in the loss of teeth, if left untreated and it is the most common cause of tooth loss in the middle aged and elderly.
    

   
Refrence:

Missing Teeth Predict Incident Cardiovascular Events, Diabetes, and Death, Liljestrand JM, Havulinna AS, Paju S, Männistö S, Salomaa V, Pussinen PJ., Journal of Dental Research, doi: 10.1177/0022034515586352, published 19 May 2015.