Associations between functional tooth number and physical complaints of community-residing adults in a 15-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Oral function influences various general health and organ diseases. We wondered if physical complaints of unknown origin were related to oral function.

METHODS: Five thousand five hundred and eighty-four community residents (2206 men and 3378 women, aged 40-89 years) on the Miyako Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, were recruited for the baseline study in 1987 and followed up for 15 years. Physical complaints and functional tooth numbers were assessed for the baseline study in 1987 by dentists and followed up for 15 years. Physical complaints of unknown origin included shoulder stiffness, lower back pain, pain of upper extremity, pain of lower extremity, neuralgia, ear ringing, difficult of hearing, dizziness and sleeping difficulties.

RESULTS: Physical complaints were significantly associated with functional tooth number in the baseline study. There were no systematic differences between physical complaints and functional tooth number among different age groups. Physical complaints did not influence the survival rates in either men or women.

CONCLUSION: Oral function may be related to physical complaints. Dental care may be one of the targets to treat these physical complaints of unknown origin.