ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive function and occlusal status in elderly individuals. METHODS: A total of 162 individuals aged 65 years and older, who attended the senior citizen center in Daegu city, were included after consent for participation in the study was obtained. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) was used to evaluate the level of cognitive function. Occlusal status was determined using the T-scan III® system. All collected data were analyzed by χ² test, t-test, one way ANOVA, and linear regression analysis using SPSS version 23.0 for Windows. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between the cognitive function and the use of dentures. Individuals with posterior occlusal status had higher MMSE-K scores than those with anterior occlusal status. There was a positive correlation between the cognitive function and posterior occlusal force. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that occlusal status was associated with cognitive function in the elderly individuals. Active national policies to improve occlusal condition in the elderly population are needed.