Functional status and untreated dental caries among nursing home residents aged 65 and over

This descriptive study examined the relationship between untreated dental caries and functional status among 958 dentate nursing home residents aged 65 and over. Functional status was measured by the Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (PSMS). The PSMS assessment revealed that 32% of subjects were unable to perform all activities, and only 10% could perform all activities. Overall, 59% of subjects had untreated coronal decay and 46% had untreated root decay. In bivariate analysis, untreated coronal and root caries experiences were significantly associated with PSMS limitations, lack of dental care utilization, sex, and number of remaining teeth. Stratified analysis suggested an interaction between functional status and dental care utilization. Among subjects who had received dental care in the preceding year, PSMS status was not significantly related to untreated caries experience; but among subjects who had not received care, PSMS status was significantly related to untreated caries experience. In logistic regression analysis of untreated root decay, a significant interaction was found between PSMS status and dental care utilization. However, in logistic regression analysis of untreated coronal caries, no significant interaction was found; significant independent effects were found for dental care utilization and number of remaining teeth, but not for PSMS status.