Percentile curves for food acceptance response scores in assessing chewing functions in adults

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether percentile curves for food acceptance response scores were useful in assessing oral and occlusal conditions. We used data obtained from Chiba City Patient Surveys (males: 1,276, females: 1,381, aged 20 to 64), which were conducted in 1998 and 1999. Subjects were assigned scores of between 1 and 4 for 31 different kinds of food based on their food acceptance responses. Occlusal conditions were measured with pressure-sensitive sheets. We calculated the percentile values from 5 to 95 at intervals of five years. We divided the subjects into two groups at the twenty-fifth percentile and statistically analyzed various oral conditions in the two groups. Significant differences were found between them in the mean numbers of present, sound, and missing teeth for almost all age groups. Moreover, there were significant differences in tooth-contact area and occlusal force between the two groups. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the scores had a stronger correlation with occlusal conditions than number of teeth in 55-year-olds, although the effect teeth-factors had on scores was more significant in 45- to 50-year-old males. Females' scores had a stronger correlation with occlusal conditions than number of teeth in all age groups. These results indicate that the questionnaire on the acceptance of 31 different kinds of food is useful in providing a basis for oral health instruction and dental treatment aimed at improving chewing ability in adults.