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Is Trying to Quit Associated With Tooth Loss and Delayed Yearly Dental Visit Among Smokers? Results of the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

BACKGROUND
The rate of periodontitis in the US population has been estimated to be close to 50%. Patients with periodontitis, especially those who smoke, suffer from a high rate of tooth loss. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate predictors of poor oral health and oral health habits among smokers and determine if trying to quit smoking is associated with better oral health or oral health habits in smokers in the United States.


METHODS
Data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used in the analysis. After limiting the dataset to smokers, the designated exposure was respondent's report of trying to quit smoking (yes/no). Two logistic regression models were developed. One model identified factors associated with having a most recent dental visit longer than 1 year before the survey. The second model identified factors associated with loss of six or more teeth. Both models were controlled for confounding factors.


RESULTS
After controlling for confounding, among smokers in the 2014 BRFSS, trying to quit was associated with significantly lower odds of respondents having their most recent dental visit longer than a year before the survey (odds ratio [OR]: 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 0.97) and was a significant risk factor for having lost six or more teeth (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Among smokers in the United States, trying to quit is associated with compliance with yearly dental visits and higher odds of lost teeth. Future research should investigate optimal approaches for providing smoking cessation services in the dental setting.