Psychosocial properties of oral health have been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the causal effect of complete loss of natural teeth on loneliness by using fixed-effects analysis to control for confounding factors, including unmeasured time-invariant factors. Data from older adults participating in at least 2 consecutive waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing in waves 3 (2006/2007), 5 (2010/2011), and 7 (2014/2015) were analyzed ( N = 18,682 observations from 7,298 individuals). The association between complete loss of natural teeth and loneliness score (ranging from 3 to 9) was examined using fixed-effect linear regression analysis adjusting for time-varying confounders, including sociodemographic and health characteristics. The prevalence of complete tooth loss was 12.7%, 12.8%, and 10.6% in waves 3, 5, and 7, respectively. Individuals who transitioned to complete tooth loss during any 2 consecutive waves had an increase in loneliness score by 0.27 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03, 0.52), which was greater than those who maintained natural teeth (−0.03; 95% CI −0.05, −0.01). Fixed-effects analysis adjusting for time-varying confounders revealed a significant association between complete loss of natural teeth and an increase in loneliness score by 0.31 (95% CI 0.17, 0.46). Complete loss of natural teeth among older adults in England was associated with loneliness, even after accounting for measured time-varying and (un)measured time-invariant confounders. Retaining natural teeth may reduce the risk of loneliness.

中文翻译：

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天然牙齿完全丧失和孤独感：固定效应分析


口腔健康的心理社会特性已有报道。本研究旨在通过使用固定效应分析来控制混杂因素（包括未测量的时不变因素），调查天然牙齿完全丧失对孤独感的因果影响。对参与至少连续 2 波英国老龄化纵向研究第 3 波（2006/2007 年）、第 5 波（2010/2011）和第 7 波（2014/2015）的老年人的数据进行了分析（N = 18,682 个观察值，来自 7,298 个观察值）个人）。使用固定效应线性回归分析来检查天然牙齿完全丧失与孤独评分（范围从 3 到 9）之间的关联，并调整随时间变化的混杂因素，包括社会人口统计学和健康特征。第 3、5 和 7 波中牙齿完全缺失的发生率分别为 12.7%、12.8% 和 10.6%。在任何连续两次波次期间转变为完全牙齿缺失的个体的孤独感得分增加了 0.27（95% 置信区间 [CI] 0.03, 0.52），高于那些保留天然牙齿的个体（−0.03；95% CI − 0.05，-0.01）。针对随时间变化的混杂因素进行调整后的固定效应分析显示，天然牙齿完全丧失与孤独感评分增加 0.31 之间存在显着关联（95% CI 0.17，0.46）。即使在考虑了测量的时变和（未）测量的时不变混杂因素之后，英国老年人的天然牙齿完全丧失与孤独感有关。保留天然牙齿可以降低孤独的风险。