Older adults with psychiatric conditions may experience greater rates of tooth loss, highlighting the need for public policies geared toward integrating mental and oral health, according to a study published on May 6 in Special Care in Dentistry.
Additionally, women and those without access to dental care may exhibit more tooth loss, the authors wrote.
“These results highlight a critical and often underrecognized public health issue, demonstrating the urgent need for targeted mental health screening, integrated oral and mental health care, and interdisciplinary strategies to improve overall well-being in this vulnerable population,” wrote the authors, led by Francisco Wilker Mustafa Gomes Muniz of the department of periodontology at Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil.
The 21st century has been marked by significant sociodemographic transformations, with aging being one of the most consequential, contributing to a rising prevalence of systemic conditions in older adults. Among the facets of healthy aging, mental health remains especially important, considering that between 15% and 30% of those age 60 and older globally are affected by mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression.
Studies have shown that people with mental health conditions often have worse oral health outcomes, including a greater prevalence of gum disease and tooth decay, according to the study.
To explore the link between mental health disorders and tooth loss, 94 older adults filled out a structured questionnaire and underwent an oral health exam. Also, they were asked to self-report any psychiatric conditions. Then regression models were completed, the authors wrote.
Among the adults, the prevalence of psychiatric disease was 16.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.5% to 19.6%). Having fewer teeth was associated with psychiatric diseases (rate ratio [RR]:0.69; 95% CI:0.51 to 0.94), they wrote.
Furthermore, women (RR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.84) and those without access to the dentist (RR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.65) exhibited higher rates of tooth loss, the authors wrote.
However, the study had limitations. Having the adults self-report psychiatric conditions can introduce recall and perception biases, specifically since this study only captured data about current diagnoses, they wrote.
“Public policies should aim to integrate mental and oral health, ensuring equitable access to dental care for these most vulnerable groups,” Muniz and colleagues wrote.
