The link between dental care use and incident diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer disease among older Americans: the health and retirement study.

Oral health is crucial for overall well-being, especially in older adults at higher risk for chronic diseases. This study examines the link between regular dental care and 10-year incidence of major conditions-Alzheimer's, dementia, stroke, diabetes, cancer-using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a representative survey of older Americans. Data from 15,320 dementia‑free participants aged 50 years and older interviewed in 2008 were analyzed. Regular dental visits in the previous 2 years were the primary exposure, and a composite dental condition measure (poor versus good, combining edentulism and self‑rated oral health) was examined in an oral‑health subsample. Incident Alzheimer's disease, all‑cause dementia, stroke, diabetes, and cancer over approximately 10 years of follow‑up were ascertained from physician diagnoses and cognitive assessments. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors. Regular dental visiting was associated with a substantially lower 10‑year risk of cognitive diseases, stroke, cancer, and diabetes outcomes. In fully adjusted models, regular attenders had markedly reduced odds of incident Alzheimer's disease and all‑cause dementia compared with non‑attenders, and similar but weaker associations with stroke, diabetes, and cancer were observed. In the oral‑health subsample, poor dental condition was strongly related to higher odds of incident all‑cause dementia, with attenuated but persisting elevation after adjustment, while showing little evidence of association with incident Alzheimer's disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer. In this large cohort of older Americans, regular dental care use and favourable baseline dental condition were both associated with a lower 10‑year incidence of dementia, particularly all‑cause dementia, whereas links with vascular and metabolic outcomes were limited. These findings support integrating oral health maintenance into strategies to preserve cognitive health in ageing populations.