Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Oral function and physical function converge: national evidence linking functional teeth, scaling care, and muscle
Jiyeon Choi1, Youn Huh2, Jungha Park3
1Samsung Hyun Dental Clinic, Seoul, South Korea.
Background:
To examine the association between functional dentition and hand grip strength (HGS) in older adults and to assess whether this relationship is modified by dental implant status or recent preventive dental care, using nationally representative data from Korea.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study involved analysis of data of 2,268 adults aged ≥ 65 years who participated in the 2022-2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Functional dentition was defined as the total number of remaining natural and fixed prosthetic teeth and categorized as 0, 1-9, 10-19, or ≥ 20 teeth. Low HGS was defined as HGS < 28 kg in men and < 18 kg in women, according to the 2023 Korean Working Group on Sarcopenia criteria. Multivariable logistic regression models were sequentially adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, nutritional, and oral health factors. Effect modifications by implant status and recent dental scaling experience were assessed using stratified analyses and interaction terms.
Results:
The prevalence of low HGS declined progressively with the increasing number of functional teeth: from 38.9% among individuals with no functional teeth to 16.6% among those with ≥ 20 teeth (p for trend < 0.001). In fully adjusted models, participants with < 20 functional teeth had 1.6-2.5 times higher odds of low HGS compared with individuals with ≥ 20 teeth. The implant status did not significantly modify this association (p for interaction = 0.498). In contrast, recent dental scaling significantly modified the relationship (p for interaction = 0.030). An inverse association between functional teeth and HGS was observed only among individuals without scaling.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest a significant association between a reduced number of functional teeth and low HGS in older adults. While these results highlight the potential relevance of oral health to physical capacity, further longitudinal studies are required to clarify the temporal relationship and to determine whether preserving functional dentition may be associated with better physical function and a lower risk of subsequent functional decline.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
01:22The Functions of the Skeletal System
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:31Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.