The impact of a workplace dental-health program on glycemic control in Japanese working adults: a cohort study.

Background: This study implemented a workplace dental-health program to encourage those at risk of diabetes to visit a dentist, and examined factors associated with changes in glycemic control.

Methods: The participants included 342 people aged 40-64 years old with an A1c value of 5.6% or higher, and those with diabetes, prediabetes, or needing to exercise caution with regard to diabetes. Participants underwent a dental checkup at a dental clinic in 2018, after which their diabetes status was followed for 3 years. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effect of each independent variable on the 3-year change in the A1c value (decrease, stable, or increase).

Results: Having a greater number of teeth was associated with a significantly lower OR for an increased A1c value (decrease ≥ 0.3%) (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.97). Visiting a dentist regularly was associated with a significantly higher OR for a decreased A1c value (increase ≥ 0.3%) (OR, 4.20; 95% CI, 1.45-12.2).

Conclusion: Among working adults, those who visited a dentist regularly had better A1c values, and those with a greater number of teeth were less likely to experience worsening of A1c values.