Objectives: This study examined whether low renal function is associated with the number of remaining teeth among community-dwelling elderly Japanese.
Background data: Many elderly individuals display both low renal function and tooth loss.
Materials and Methods: Subjects comprised 405 randomly selected women (55-74 years old). Serum cystatin C level was used to assess renal dysfunction. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between number of remaining teeth and serum cystatin C level, with number of remaining teeth as the dependent variable. Six variables were selected as independent variables in the final model: serum cystatin C; age; mean clinical attachment level; serum cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen level; body mass index and smoking habits.
Results: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between number of remaining teeth and serum cystatin C level. The beta value for serum cystatin C level for the number of remaining teeth was -0.11 (p = 0.018).
Conclusion: This study indicates a relationship between serum cystatin C level and number of remaining teeth, suggesting that low renal function could be associated with tooth loss.