Study: Loss of Occlusion Support in Elderly Increases Long-Term Mortality Risk

A new study published in the recent issue of International Dental Journal revealed a strong association between dental health and long-term survival in older adults. This research found that the loss of occlusal support significantly increased the risk of mortality over a 10-year period, particularly among women.

This research was conducted on 360 community-dwelling 80-year-olds, from June 2008 to June 2018. All-cause mortality was confirmed through family members or caregivers. Individuals who could not be followed, declined participation, or had unknown death dates were censored at the last point they were known to be alive.

At the start, the participants underwent thorough dental and periodontal examinations, saliva tests, blood tests for nutritional markers like serum albumin, and lifestyle surveys on smoking, drinking, exercise, and medical history. The key focus was occlusal support, which was categorized using the Eichner Index (EI), a standard classification for bite stability. The participants were grouped into EI classes A/B (those with adequate occlusal support) and class C (those lacking occlusal support).

By the end of the 10-year follow-up, a total of 297 participants were analyzed. Of these, 203 were in EI class A/B and 94 in EI class C. The survival analysis found individuals with sufficient tooth support (class A/B) had a cumulative survival rate of 79.8%, when compared with just 66.0% among those with limited support (class C). This difference proved statistically significant.

When other factors were considered, including sex, exercise habits, and medical history, the results remained compelling. The multivariate Cox regression model showed that men overall had a higher risk of death (Hazard Ratio, HR: 2.28; 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.23–4.26). Also, being in EI class C also independently increased the risk of mortality (HR: 1.88; CI: 1.08–3.36).

In women, lack of occlusal support (class C) was a particularly powerful predictor, with an HR of 4.17 (CI: 1.47–11.79). This meant older women without proper tooth support faced more than 4-times the risk of dying within 10 years when compared to those with intact support.

Overall, these results highlight the importance of dental care in elderly health strategies, suggesting that maintaining teeth into advanced age may quite literally be a matter of life and death. Beyond aesthetics or comfort, teeth and their proper alignment appear to be directly linked to survival.

Source:

Tamura, K., Nohno, K., & Ogawa, H. (2025). Association of occlusal support with all-cause 10-year mortality in healthy, community-dwelling, 80-year-old adults. International Dental Journal, 75(6), 103909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2025.103909