<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>This study aimed to assess the prevalence of edentulism and tooth loss in the Slovenian elderly population, along with the associated risk factors, and investigate the association between systemic and oral health.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Methods</h3>
<p>The study included 445 individuals aged 65 or older (average age: 79.7±8.9 years). Data on preserved teeth, dental history, chronic diseases, and medications were collected through clinical examinations. Height and weight were recorded in order to calculate body mass index (BMI), and the education level was also collected. Chronic systemic diseases and medications were categorized. Statistical analysis was conducted using linear regression and nonparametric tests.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>Participants had an average of 4.7±7.7 teeth, with no significant gender differences. Higher age (β=−0.185, p&lt;0.001) and lower education level (p&lt;0.001) were associated with fewer teeth, while higher BMI showed no correlation (β=−0.085, p=0.325). Diabetes mellitus (p=0.031), cardiovascular diseases (p=0.025), and thyroid diseases (p=0.043) were inversely related to retained teeth. This inverse relationship also applied to individuals who recovered from malignancies, not including head and neck malignancies (p=0.019). No significant relationship was found between osteoporosis and the number of teeth (p=0.573). Notably, antidiabetic drug use was inversely related to the number of teeth (p=0.004), while analgesics showed a positive relationship (p=0.022).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>This study highlights the association between specific sociodemographic factors, chronic diseases, and retained teeth among elderly individuals in Slovenia. High edentulism rates among the elderly emphasize the need for enhanced preventive measures and risk factor management, particularly for high-risk groups like the elderly.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of edentulism and tooth loss in the Slovenian elderly population, along with the associated risk factors, and investigate the association between systemic and oral health.

Methods
The study included 445 individuals aged 65 or older (average age: 79.7±8.9 years). Data on preserved teeth, dental history, chronic diseases, and medications were collected through clinical examinations. Height and weight were recorded in order to calculate body mass index (BMI), and the education level was also collected. Chronic systemic diseases and medications were categorized. Statistical analysis was conducted using linear regression and nonparametric tests.

Results
Participants had an average of 4.7±7.7 teeth, with no significant gender differences. Higher age (β=−0.185, p<0.001) and lower education level (p<0.001) were associated with fewer teeth, while higher BMI showed no correlation (β=−0.085, p=0.325). Diabetes mellitus (p=0.031), cardiovascular diseases (p=0.025), and thyroid diseases (p=0.043) were inversely related to retained teeth. This inverse relationship also applied to individuals who recovered from malignancies, not including head and neck malignancies (p=0.019). No significant relationship was found between osteoporosis and the number of teeth (p=0.573). Notably, antidiabetic drug use was inversely related to the number of teeth (p=0.004), while analgesics showed a positive relationship (p=0.022).

Conclusions
This study highlights the association between specific sociodemographic factors, chronic diseases, and retained teeth among elderly individuals in Slovenia. High edentulism rates among the elderly emphasize the need for enhanced preventive measures and risk factor management, particularly for high-risk groups like the elderly.

Tooth Loss and Systemic Diseases in the Slovenian Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Associaton Between Oral and Systemic Health

Medical Faculty, Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery

Clinical Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Ozobljenost Starostnikov V Sloveniji Ter Njihove Sočasne Bolezni in Stanja: Presečna Raziskava Sočasnega Vpliva Ustnega In Sistemskega Zdravja Na Izgubo Zob

Introduction
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of edentulism and tooth loss in the Slovenian elderly population, along with the associated risk...

Tooth Loss and Systemic Diseases in the Slovenian Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Associaton Between Oral and Systemic Health

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jun 14, 2024

Page range: 142 - 151

Received: Jan 12, 2024

Accepted: May 21, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2024-0019

Keywords
Edentulism, Elderly population, Systemic diseases

© 2024 Jurij Bojan Žmavc et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Tooth Loss and Systemic Diseases in the Slovenian Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Associaton Between Oral and Systemic Health

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jun 14, 2024

Page range: 142 - 151

Received: Jan 12, 2024

Accepted: May 21, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2024-0019

KeywordsEdentulism, Elderly population, Systemic diseases

© 2024 Jurij Bojan Žmavc et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Edentulism, Elderly population, Systemic diseases