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Purpose: This study identifies clinical factors that predict multiple tooth loss in a
socioculturally diverse population of older adults. Materials and Methods: A total
of 193 participants from English-, Chinese-, or Punjabi-speaking communities in
Vancouver, British Columbia, with low incomes and irregular use of dental services
were followed for 5 years as part of a clinical trial of a 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthrinse.
The participants were interviewed and examined clinically, including panoramic
radiographs, at baseline and annually for 5 years. Binary logistic regression was used
to test the hypothesis that there was no difference between incidence of multiple (≥ 3)
tooth loss in older people with various biologic, behavioral, prosthodontic, and cultural
variables over 5 years. Results: Multiple tooth loss, which was distributed similarly
among the groups in the trial, occurred in 39 (20%) participants over 5 years. The use
of removable prostheses was the best predictor of loss, followed by the number of
carious surfaces and number of sites with gingival attachment loss > 6 mm. The pattern
of prediction was consistent across the three linguocultural groups. Conclusion: The
use of removable dentures was the dominant predictor of multiple tooth loss in the
three communities, but that tooth loss was not significantly associated with the cultural
heritage of the participants. Int J Prosthodont 2013;26:127–134. doi: 10.11607/ijp.2893
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