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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Factors associated with self-assessed masticatory ability among community-dwelling elderly Japanese
1Department of Health Promotion, National Institute of Public Health, Japan. shyomi@niph.go.jp
Community Dental Health
|April 10, 2012
Summary
Chewing ability in older adults is linked to oral health. Lost teeth, poor periodontal status, and denture issues like pain significantly impact self-assessed masticatory function.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oral Health
- Dental Public Health
Background:
- Self-assessed masticatory ability is a key indicator of general health in the elderly.
- Understanding oral factors influencing chewing function is crucial for improving quality of life in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific oral health factors associated with self-assessed masticatory ability in community-dwelling elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 736 elderly participants.
- Data collected via questionnaires and intraoral examinations, assessing posterior occluding pairs of natural teeth (POPs), periodontal status (CPI), and denture status.
- Statistical analyses included Chi-squared tests and ordinal regression models.
Main Results:
- Impaired self-assessed masticatory ability was significantly associated with fewer posterior occluding pairs of natural teeth (POPs) and poorer periodontal status (CPI).
- Among those with lost POPs, not using dentures and experiencing pain with dentures were linked to impaired chewing ability.
- Denture stability and retention did not significantly correlate with masticatory ability in edentulous subjects.
Conclusions:
- The pattern of natural teeth, periodontal health, and denture-related factors, particularly pain during use, are significant determinants of self-assessed masticatory ability in the elderly.
- These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive oral health assessments for maintaining chewing function in older populations.
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