Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: This is the first population-based study to separately examine whether preventive and treatment dental visits modify the association between stressful life events and toothache. Psychological stress may alter health-seeking behaviors and pain perception, potentially leading to symptom-driven rather than preventive dental visits. Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained and analyzed from the 2019 wave of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), including 19,314 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older. Poisson regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between stressful life events, dental visit history, and self-reported toothache. Results: Higher stressful life events were associated with greater toothache prevalence (PR = 1.189; 95% CI: 1.117–1.264). Preventive dental visits within the past six months were linked to the lowest risk, whereas recent treatment visits were associated with higher risk. Conclusion: Promoting regular preventive dental visits, particularly among individuals under high stress, may help reduce the likelihood of experiencing toothache among older adults.
Source: Oral
DOI: 10.3390/oral6010006
Authors: Tomoya Saito, Jun Aida
Institution: Institute of Science Tokyo
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
Funders: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Sasakawa Sports Foundation, Japan Health Promotion and Fitness Foundation, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 8020 Promotion Foundation, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Awards: 社会モデルの統合医療に関する実態調査とデータベース構築に向けた産官学共同研究開発, Causal inference in the association between oral health and general health using big data, 介護予防政策へのパーソナル・ヘルス・レコード(PHR)の利活用モデルの開発, Study on elucidating the generation process of inequality in well-being and social capital among older people, Causal inference of oral status and systemic health using multiple large cohorts and NDB, and hospital data, 介護予防につながるIoT活用による行動変容促進サービスの創出に関する研究, 地域包括ケア推進に向けた地域診断ツールの活用による地域マネジメント支援に関する研究, G4809478703, G539646791, 保険レセプトデータを用いた死に至るまでの生活活動能力の経時的変化の類型化とその決定要因の解明, Study on Genetic and Social Factors in Oral and Cardiovascular Diseases Towards Precision Medicine, 地域づくりによる介護予防の推進のための研究, International Comparison of the Effectiveness of Universal Health Coverage in Reducing Inequalities in Health Care Access
OpenAlex ID: W7119057447