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Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationships among tooth replacement,
number of present natural teeth, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors in
an adult population in Bulgaria. Materials and Methods: Quota sampling was used
to recruit 2,531 dentate subjects aged 20 years and over from the capital city and
four main urban centers, four towns, and seven small towns and villages of Bulgaria.
Potential candidates for tooth replacement were classified as having functional
dentitions (26 to 27 or 20 to 25 natural teeth present) or subfunctional dentitions (16 to
19 or 2 to 15 natural teeth present), not including third molars. Multiple logistic
regression analyses were performed to determine the associations between tooth
replacement and the factors of interest. Results: Of the included subjects, 37%
presented with tooth replacement, while 19% presented with fewer than 20 natural teeth.
Molars were replaced significantly less often (P ≤ .017) than premolars and anterior
teeth. The presence of tooth replacement was more likely in subjects with 2 to 15 teeth
(odds ratio: 1.62) and less likely in subjects with 26 to 27 teeth (odd ratio: 0.29), but no
significant difference was detected between subjects with 16 to 19 and 20 to 25 teeth.
Tooth replacement was associated with age, occupational status, frequency of dental
visits, and toothbrushing habits. Conclusions: In this Bulgarian population, the variables
number of present teeth, age, dental visits, and toothbrushing were relevant factors
with respect to tooth replacement. The cutoff value of 20 teeth did not discriminate
high-risk from low-risk subjects. Int J Prosthodont 2013;26:34–41. doi: 10.11607/ijp.3111
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