Masticatory Performance Within a Representative Swiss Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Study

Masticatory function is a major indicator for oral health status. At the time being, only few studies have investigated orofacial functional conditions with different methods.

To assess the masticatory performance (MP) of individuals aged ≥ 45 residing in Swiss communities by means of a a two-colour chewing gum.

Subjects aged ≥ 45 years and residing in Swiss communities (Bern-Canton) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. After a comprehensive clinical examination and subjects' data collection thorough dedicated questionnaires, a two-colour mixing-ability test was carried out. The photographed specimens were analysed with a subjective (SA) and an Opto-Electronic assessment (SD_Hue). Descriptive, bivariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression were performed between the outcome variable (SA) and subjects' variables.

From the whole analysed sample (275 patients; male n = 154, women n = 121, mean age = 69.7 years), MP was assessed on 207 chewing samples. The SA revealed 118 (57%) categorised as SA 4-SA 5 (very good), 76 (36.7%) as SA 3 (good) and 13 (6.3%) as SA 1 and SA 2 (poor), respectively. MP was higher in the younger (age 45-64, SD_Hue: 0.09 SD 0.89) than in older group (age ≥ 75 years, SD_Hue: 0.19 SD 0.18). A significant association between MP and age (p < 0.01), time to the last visit at the dentist, visit to the dental hygienist (p = 0.03; p = 0.01) as well as the use of dental floss (p < 0.01) were detected.

MP of individuals aged ≥ 45 residing in Swiss communities was overall good. High plaque and bleeding scores were increasing with subjects' age.