Association between the dental occlusion and perceived ability to eat foods of Taiwanese older adults

BACKGROUND Tooth loss is a common problem among older adults that affects masticatory function (MF) and food selection. Financial burden is a reason that some older adults in Taiwan with this condition forgo dental restoration. OBJECTIVE To identify the number of posterior occlusal support areas (POSAs) associated with MF. METHODS Large-scale cross-sectional study included 1100 community-dwelling participants of Taiwan aged ≥65 years. Participants completed dental examination and questionnaires through personal interviews. Masticatory performance was evaluated using a color-changeable chewing gum. Masticatory ability was evaluated on the basis of how many of 14 common foods the participants were able to eat. Participants were grouped into 10 categories (A1-A3, B1-B4, and C1-C3) according to the Eichner Index (EI) of posterior occlusal contacts. Multivariable regression models were used to analyze the association between the EI groups and MF. RESULTS More than 80% of the participants with two or more POSAs (those in groups A1-B2) could easily eat various foods. Compared with those in groups A1-B2, those in groups in B3, B4, C1, C2, and C3 exhibited a significantly different masticatory performance (all p < .001) and significantly higher difficulty in eating fruits and vegetables. A dose-response effect between POSAs and perceived masticatory ability to eat fruits and vegetables was observed (p < .05 for both trends). CONCLUSION Preservation of at least two POSAs is essential for MF. Older adults with tooth loss can undergo the restoration of two POSAs to improve MF and increase food intake.