Postmenopausal tooth loss. Contributions to edentulism by osteoporosis and cigarette smoking.

Two hundred eight white women, aged 60 to 69 years, had acquired 218 upper or lower full dentures. Each woman's smoking habits and current osteoporosis severity (percent cortical area [PCA] at metacarpal midshaft) were compared with the age at which she had acquired each full denture. Among osteoporotic women (PCA less than 70%) who still had their natural teeth at age 50 years, 44% had required a new full denture before age 60 compared with 15% of nonosteoporotic women (PCA greater than 80). Different denture requirements between these groups had not existed before age 50 but had continued after age 60. Fifty-two percent of smokers, 26% of nonsmokers, and only 8% of nonosteoporotic nonsmokers had required dentures since age 50. These observations strongly suggest that middle-aged women may be more likely to retain their teeth if they avoid smoking and undertake a program effective in preventing progression of osteoporosis.