Oral health problems and mortality.

Background/purpose: Previous studies have shown the relationship between individual oral health conditions and mortality; however, the relationship between mortality and multiple oral health conditions has not been examined. This study investigates the link between individual oral health problems and oral comorbidity and mortality risk.

Materials And Methods: Data are derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004, which is linked to the National Death Index for mortality follow-up through 2006. We estimated the risk of mortality among people with three individual oral health conditions-tooth loss, root caries, and periodontitis as well as with oral comorbidity-or having all three conditions.

Results: Significant tooth loss, root caries, and periodontal disease were associated with increased odds of dying. The relationship between oral health conditions and mortality disappeared when controlling for sociodemographic, health, and/or health behavioral indicators. Having multiple oral health problems was associated with an even higher rate of mortality.

Conclusion: Individual oral health conditions-tooth loss, root caries, and periodontal disease-were not related to mortality when sociodemographic, health, and/or health behavioral factors were considered, and there was no differential pattern between the three conditions. Multiple oral health problems were associated with a higher risk of dying.