Association between tooth extraction due to infection and myocardial infarction.

Objective: To explore whether the association between tooth extraction and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) varies by reason for extraction.

Methods: Men of the Oslo study of 1972/73 took part in the health survey in 2000 (n=6530) then aged 48-77 years. The present analysis is a nested case-control study of the men with a self-reported history of MI as cases (n=548) and randomly drawn controls (n=625). Reasons for extraction (self-reported) were recorded as periodontal infections (marginal periodontitis) or apical infection of a single tooth, and these were grouped as infection due to extractions. Extractions due to trauma or other causes were grouped as noninfection extractions.

Results: More men with a history of MI had extracted teeth than controls (92.7% versus 88.6%; P=0.020). The prospective logistic regression analysis predicting nonfatal MI showed strength of association between infection extraction, no extraction, or noninfection extractions combined [odds ratio (OR)=1.64; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24, 2.16] in adjusted analysis and crude analysis (OR=1.73; 95% CI: 1.34, 2.23). Adjustment was made for known risk factors for MI and periodontitis in 1972/73, such as systolic blood pressure, smoking, total cholesterol, BMI, and education recorded in the 2000 screening.

Conclusions:   Extractions due to dental infections were associated with nonfatal MI in elderly men.