Evidence is beginning to accumulate that certain systemic and oral health conditions are related. For example, heart disease and chronic periodontitis are associated, although the reasons for this association remain unclear. The AoU database, with its longitudinal design and large sample size, would be a powerful resource to discover additional systemic-oral health associations as well as determining causal relationships.... more »

Edentulism is the end-product of years of poor oral health, with substantial personal, societal, and economic burden. Tracking the multiple factors contributing to this poor oral health outcome will be possible in the AoU database, and could lead to a much more detailed understanding of the genetic and behavioral risk factors involved, including chronic systemic health problems. This is turn may point to specific interventions... more »

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