Tooth loss in the population of south-eastern Poland

Objectives. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between selected socio-demographic factors and tooth loss in patients using removable dentures. Materials and method. The study comprised 321 individuals, all of whom were residents of the Lublin province in southeastern Poland. The study investigated the influence of socio-demographic factors, such as gender, age and education on the severity of tooth loss. To analyze the structure of tooth loss, the classifications by Galasińska-Lansberger and by Eichner were used. The results were analyzed statistically. Results. Edentulous gaps and lateral edentulism in the maxilla were significantly more frequent in women, while mixed tooth loss was more frequent in men, while the percentages of men and women with maxillary edentulism were similar. There were no statistically significant gender-specific differences concerning mandibular edentulism. The number of individuals who reported total tooth loss in both the maxilla and the mandible increased with age, the differences being statistically significant. Individuals with primary education only were significantly more likely to report maxillary edentulism, while a high percentage of those with secondary or higher education reported edentulous gaps in the maxilla. There was no statistically significant relationship between education and the type of tooth loss in the mandible. Conclusions. There is a strong relationship between age and education level on the one hand, and the severity of tooth loss on the other. However, gender exerts no significant influence on tooth loss, which was confirmed using 2 classifications of edentulism.