Cardiovascular diseases and oral health: results of the 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6)

Objectives: Epidemiologic studies have indicated a correlation between dental and cardiovascular diseases, which remains insufficiently explored. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the prevalence of common dental diseases in younger seniors (65- to 74-year-olds) with and without cardiovascular diseases.
Method and materials: Participants with available self-reported data on cardiovascular diseases were selected from the cohort of the population-representative 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6), in which caries, periodontitis, and tooth loss were recorded in a standardized manner. The prevalence of oral diseases was compared between participants with and without cardiovascular diseases.
Results: Compared with participants without cardiovascular diseases, those with cardiovascular diseases had an average of 2.1 fewer teeth, were more frequently edentulous, and were more likely to have advanced periodontal disease (stage IV). In contrast, participants without cardiovascular disease had more fillings (mean + 1.7 teeth) than those with cardiovascular disease.
Conclusion: The main cause of increased tooth loss — caries or periodontal disease — could not be clarified from the available data. In this study, the prevalence of tooth loss with oral-function limitation was higher in younger seniors with cardiovascular disease.