OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between long-term pattern of dental attendance and tooth retention among British adults.

METHODS

This study analysed data from 2970 dentate adults who participated in the Adult Dental Health Survey. Data were collected through home interviews and clinical examinations. Individuals were categorized into four trajectories according to their responses to three questions on dental attendance over their life span. The four trajectories were always, current, former and never regular attenders. Tooth retention was measured as the number of natural teeth retained and having a functional dentition (20 or more teeth). Associations were examined in regression models adjusted for demographic (sex, age and country of residence), socioeconomic (education, equivalized household income and social class) and clinical factors (untreated caries and periodontal disease).

RESULTS

Never and former regular attenders had fewer teeth retained (rate ratios with 95% confidence interval: 0.93 [0.89-0.97] and 0.97 [0.96-0.99], respectively) and lower odds of having functional dentition (odds ratios with 95% CI: 0.36 [0.22-0.60] and 0.53 [0.34-0.83], respectively) than always regular attenders after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics. However, no differences in number of teeth retained or having a functional dentition were found between always and current regular attenders.

CONCLUSION

Long-term regular dental attendance was associated with greater tooth retention. Never and former regular attenders had fewer teeth retained than always regular attenders. No difference in tooth retention was found between always and current regular attenders.