# Associations between dentition status and cardiometabolic disease in adults: a cross-sectional analysis

## TL;DR

This study found that better dental health is linked to a lower risk of heart and metabolic diseases in adults.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence that tooth retention and functional dentition are associated with reduced cardiometabolic disease risk.

## Key findings

- Each additional tooth was linked to lower odds of diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
- Functional dentition was associated with significantly reduced odds of cardiometabolic diseases.
- Tooth retention remained beneficial for cardiovascular and metabolic health even after adjusting for comorbid conditions.

## Abstract

This study explored associations between dentition status and cardiometabolic diseases in adults.

Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from adults receiving routine care at an urban US Dental School clinic between January 1, 2020, and June 1, 2023. Associations between dentition status (measured by tooth loss and functional dentition [FD] status) and cardiometabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus [DM], hypertension [HTN], stroke, and cardiovascular disease [CVD]) were explored using binary logistic regression models while controlling for cardiometabolic risk factors [CMRFs].

The sample (N = 32,541) was 67.6% 40 years or older, 54.1% female, 51.7% White/Caucasian, 41.7% Black, 70.3% non-Hispanic/non-Latino, 69.6% overweight/obese; 16.0% reported tobacco use. The median number of remaining teeth was 26.0; 75.7% had FD. After adjusting for CMRFs, each additional tooth was associated with lower odds of DM (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.98, 0.99), HTN (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.98, 0.99), stroke (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.96, 0.98), and CVD (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.97,0.98). FD was associated with lower odds of DM (OR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.70,0.84), HTN (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.72, 0.850), stroke (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.55,0.77), and CVD (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.63–0.79). After adjusting for comorbid cardiometabolic conditions, having more teeth remained associated with lower odds of DM (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98, 0.99), HTN (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98, 1.00), and CVD (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97, 0.99). FD was associated with lower odds of DM (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.68–0.92), HTN (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.92), and CVD (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71, 0.93).

Tooth retention is associated with lower odds of having cardiometabolic disease. Enhanced knowledge and awareness of these associations can lead to improved cardiometabolic risk screening in interprofessional settings.