Notably, the 2022–24 CHMS cycle introduced baseline data for children aged 1 to 5, with 17% already showing signs of decay. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, caries remains nearly universal in adulthood and highly prevalent in childhood. For the first time, the CHMS included the PUFA index, a clinical tool used to measure the serious consequences of untreated dental caries. The findings are striking: 7% of children and youth show signs of advanced untreated decay, while 22% of adults are affected. New Study: Tooth Loss Linked to Hospitalization Risk A recent population-based cohort study1 using CHMS data provides new insight into the relationship between oral health and broader health outcomes in Canada. By linking CHMS Cycle 1 (2007–09) clinical oral health data with national mortality and hospitalization records, researchers followed participants for up to a decade to examine whether missing teeth are associated with adverse health events. The study found that tooth loss was significantly associated with an increased risk of hospitalization. After adjusting for key factors such as age,sex,smoking and diabetes, individuals with five or more missing teeth had a 76% higher risk of all-cause hospitalization and more than double the risk of hospitalization for circulatory conditions.Associations were also observed for respiratory-related hospitalizations. In contrast, while missing teeth appeared to be linked to higher mortality in unadjusted analyses, these associations were no longer statistically significant after accounting for socioeconomic and health-related factors.This suggests that tooth loss may function less as an independent risk factor for mortality and more as a marker of broader underlying health and social conditions. Importantly, the study highlights missing teeth as a cumulative indicator of lifelong oral disease, often reflecting the effects of dental caries and periodontal disease.The findings reinforce growing evidence that oral health is closely connected to general health and health system use, particularly in relation to chronic disease and hospital care. While the DMFT index (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) captures lifetime disease experience, PUFA highlights active neglect and severe progression and includes Pulpal involvement, Ulceration, Fistulae and Abscesses. These are not early lesions, but late-stage pathologies that point to barriers in utilization, affordability or awareness. The periodontal data reveal a more complex trend. Although many adults still fall within a clinically “healthy” probing range, the distribution has shifted. There has been a sharp decline in shallow pockets (0–2 mm) from 45% to 13% in 2022–24, an increase in 3 mm pockets from 34% to 51% and growth in 4 mm and 5 mm pockets, indicating early to moderate disease. Overall, more than one in three adults now present with pocket depths of 4 mm or greater, up from one in five in the 2007-09 CHMS. This trend aligns with international data suggesting a rising burden of periodontal disease. Bleeding on probing adds another layer to the periodontal picture. Over 80% of adults exhibit bleeding around at least one tooth, with the highest prevalence among those aged 20 to 39 (90%). This raises an important clinical paradox: younger adults, often assumed to be a lower risk demographic, are showing high levels of active inflammation. Whether this reflects oral hygiene behaviours, irregular dental attendance or broader socioeconomic factors, it suggests an opportunity for earlier intervention from oral health care practitioners. Taken together, the recent CHMS findings present a dual narrative: although there has been clear progress The CHMS included the PUFA index, a clinical tool used to measure the serious consequences of untreated dental caries. The findings are striking: 7% of children and youth show signs of advanced untreated decay, while 22% of adults are affected. Statistics Canada has more details on the oral health component of the 2022–24 CHMS: bit.ly/49oKozE 1. Hu XF, Moharrami M, Murphy K, Clarke J. Missing teeth, mortality, and hospitalization: A population-based cohort analysis from the Canadian Health Measures Survey and linked databases. Health Rep. 2025;36(10). in tooth retention and reductions in edentulism, dental caries remain highly prevalent across all age groups and there are emerging concerns around periodontal health and the burden of untreated disease. 20 | 2026 | Issue 3 News and Events
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