Objective: To determine the factors influencing tooth loss and to assess the strength of association between the factors and the loss.s.
Methods: The unmatched case-control study was conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, from March to April 2016, and comprised data of patients who visited the outpatient dental department. Face-to-face interviews and clinical examination were done. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.
Results: Of the 376 subjects, there were 188(50%) in each of the two groups. The mean age among the cases was 37.01±12.077 years and among the controls it was 28.06±9.591 years. Tobacco consumption and age >35 were significant predictors of tooth loss (p<0.05 each). Tobacco users with high duration and frequency had a significant value for increased chances of tooth loss (p<0.001). Both the smokers and smokeless tobacco users had more chances of tooth loss (p<0.001).
Conclusions: There was negative implications of smoking on oral health which increased the chance of tooth loss.
Keywords: Tobacco, Smoking, Smokeless, Pakistan, Tooth decay, Tooth loss, Oral health, Age, Education.