Posterior Occlusal Support and History of Cerebral or Myocardial Infarction in 88-Year-Old Institutionalized Older Adults

Background: Tooth loss and periodontal disease have been linked to cardiovascular disease; however, the role of posterior occlusal support remains unclear, especially among older adults. This study examined the association between posterior occlusal support and a history of cerebral or myocardial infarction in 88-year-old institutionalized older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 88-year-old adults who underwent dental examinations at long-term care facilities. Posterior occlusal support was categorized as “no,” “partial,” or “complete support” based on the Eichner classification. The outcome was a self-reported history of cerebral or myocardial infarction. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for sex, obesity, diabetes mellitus, smoking history, periodontal pocket status, and number of remaining teeth. Results: Compared to participants with no occlusal support, those with partial occlusal support had lower odds of infarction history after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05–0.99). Complete occlusal support exhibited a similar direction, although the association was not statistically significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.11–1.50). Conclusions: Preserved posterior occlusal support was associated with lower odds of a history of cerebral or myocardial infarction in 88-year-old institutionalized older adults. The findings of this exploratory study suggest that posterior occlusal support was associated with a history of myocardial or cerebral infarction independently of tooth count. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the cross-sectional design, small reference group, self-reported outcomes, and the possibility of residual confounding, and require confirmation in larger prospective studies.