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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Association between oral stereognostic ability and masticatory performance in aged complete denture wearers
Kazunori Ikebe1, Mikiko Amemiya, Kentaro Morii
1Division of Oromaxillofacial Regeneration, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, 1-8 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. ikebe@dent.osaka-u.ac.jp
The International Journal of Prosthodontics
|June 22, 2007
Summary
Reduced oral sensory function, low occlusal force, and hyposalivation significantly impair masticatory performance in elderly denture wearers. These patient factors are crucial for effective oral function despite well-fitting dentures.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Dental Prosthetics
- Oral Physiology
Background:
- Clinically excellent dentures offer limited functional improvement for wearers.
- Patient-specific factors like salivary flow and oral sensory perception are critical for oral function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between oral sensory ability and masticatory performance in elderly edentulous patients.
- To identify key factors influencing masticatory function in denture wearers.
Main Methods:
- 30 edentulous elderly patients without oral pathologies were assessed.
- Oral stereognostic ability (OSA) tests, masticatory performance (glucose dissolution), occlusal force, and salivary flow were measured.
- Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine associations.
Main Results:
- Masticatory performance was significantly associated with maximum occlusal force (beta = .65, P < .001) and OSA score (beta = .51, P < .001).
- Hyposalivation also showed a significant association (beta = -.26, P = .042).
- The model explained 67% of the variation in masticatory performance (R2 = 0.67).
Conclusions:
- Impaired masticatory performance in aged complete denture wearers is linked to reduced oral sensory function.
- Low occlusal force and hyposalivation are significant contributing factors to diminished masticatory ability.
- Patient-centered factors are essential for optimizing oral function in edentulous individuals.
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