Prevalence, severity, and distribution of tooth mobility and association with patient-related factors in a large university-based dental cohort: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence, severity, and distribution of tooth mobility within a large university-based dental cohort and to investigate its association with patient-related factors like demographics and systemic conditions.

METHODS

This retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed electronic health records from 15,881 adult patients diagnosed with periodontitis. Data on tooth mobility, patient demographics, smoking status, and self-reported medical conditionswere extracted. Appropriate statistical analyses, including multivariate logistic regression, were used to assess associations between these factors and the presence of clinically significant tooth mobility (Grade 1, 2, or 3).

RESULTS

Clinically significant tooth mobility was highly prevalent, affecting 70.4 % of patients and 26.9 % of all teeth evaluated. Grade 1 mobility was the most common severity level recorded. Incisors were the most frequently mobile teeth, accounting for 56.3 % of cases, followed by premolars, molars, and canines. Multivariate analysis revealed that advancing age, a history of tooth loss, and a diagnosis of hypertension were the strongest independent predictors for tooth mobility. Male gender and high blood pressure were also significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Tooth mobility is a common clinical finding in periodontitis patients, showing a clear predilection for anterior teeth. The strong, independent associations with age, previous tooth loss, and hypertension highlight the importance of integrating systemic health and dental history into periodontal risk assessment.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Knowledge that factors like high blood pressure and a history of tooth loss are strong predictors for tooth mobility allows clinicians to perform a more comprehensive periodontal risk assessment. Given the high prevalence of mobility in incisors, particular clinical attention should be paid to the anterior dentition.