Effect of dentition status on perceived mobility limitation among older Brazilian adults: a cohort study

This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal effect of dentition status on the perceived mobility limitation of community-dwelling Brazilian older adults. This cohort study used data from individuals who participated in the second (2006), third (2010), and fourth (2015) waves of the Health Well-being and Aging Study, conducted in the urban region of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, with adults aged 60 years and older. Mobility limitation was assessed in all waves according to reports of difficulty in performing seven activities, with higher scores representing a higher number of limitations. The independent variables of interest were number of teeth, use of dental prostheses, impact of oral health on functionality, and presence of periodontal pockets. Oral health measures were assessed by dentists, in all waves, during a clinical oral examination. The generalized linear mixed model with a Poisson distribution was used to assess longitudinal associations. All the variables were treated as time-varying in the analysis. Older adults with 20 or more teeth had a lower risk of mobility limitation than edentulous individuals, while the impact of oral health on functionality was associated with an increased risk. Similar findings were observed among dentate individuals. Periodontal disease was not associated with the outcome in dentate individuals. The associations were constant over time. The number of teeth and the impact of oral health on functionality are risk factors for mobility limitation, underscoring the importance of maintaining functional dentition for healthy aging.