Logistic Regression Analysis of Tooth Loss in a Brazilian Subpopulation

Aims: Evaluating the prevalence of tooth loss, edentulism, prosthetic rehabilitation needs and the use of dental prosthesis as well as determine associations between tooth loss and age, sex, economic classification and race of the population studied.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 776 patients aged 15 years old or older seeking public health care at Family Health Units in the city of Recife (northeastern Brazil). Tooth loss was evaluated through an intraoral examination and categorized as 1) a maximum of 12 teeth lost or 2) more than 13 teeth lost.

Results: Prevalence rates were 85.3% for tooth loss, 5.5% for edentulism and 29% for more than 13 teeth lost. The prevalence rates for the use of maxillary and mandibular dental prostheses and the need of prosthetic rehabilitation were 35.7%, 8.9% and 85.3%, respectively. Binary logistic regression provided the following p-values: < 0.001 for age, 0.449 for sex, 0.043 for economic classification and 0.983 for race. The outcomes were not significantly associated with race or sex.

Conclusions: The prevalence of tooth loss, edentulism and the need of prosthetic rehabilitation were considered high in the population studied and were strongly associated with a low income and an older age. The prevalence of the use of dental prostheses was considered low. Sex and race exerted no influence on tooth loss.

Clinical Relevance: A better understanding of tooth loss will allow dentists to comprehend the etiological factors of this outcome, with a consequent reduction in its prevalence, thereby benefiting the population.