Study design: This was a nested case control study within the Oslo study, which began in 1972/73 with the principle aim of studying prevention and epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases.
Intervention: Within the Oslo study, men who attended for examination in both 1972/73 and 2000 with a self-reported history of MI (n=548) were compared to controls (n=625) selected at random from the same cohort, and matched by five-year strata for age.
Outcome measure: Information on history of tooth extractions and the reasons for these extractions were obtained from a self-reported questionnaire. Reasons for tooth extractions were subgrouped into infection (marginal periodontitis and apical infection) or trauma/other causes.
Results: Investigation of the association between the reason for extraction and MI, using prospective logistic analysis, found that extractions attributed to dental infections were significant predictors for risk factors in both 1972/73 and 2000.
Conclusions: There was an increased association between MI and tooth extraction due to dental infection compared with tooth extraction for trauma and other reasons.