Masticatory ability is associated with bone mineral density in young women with normal bone mineral density / 体力科学

We examined the relationship between masticatory ability and bone mineral density (BMD) and the role of muscle strength in those relationships in 156 female university students. Masticatory ability was assessed using a color-changeable chewing gum method. The BMD of the calcaneus was measured using quantitative ultrasonography and represented by a T-score, the standard deviation (SD) from the mean BMD of young adults. Body composition, grip strength, physical activity level, and daily nutrient intake were also assessed. Osteopenia, defined as the T-score < ‒1.0 SD, was present in 43 participants (27.6%). There was no significant relationship between masticatory ability (ΔE) and T-score in all participants. In participants with normal BMD (T-score ≧ ‒1.0 SD: the normal BMD group), masticatory ability significantly correlated to BMD (r = 0.289, p = 0.002). There was significant correlation between ΔE and grip strength neither in all participants nor in either group, although the grip strength in the normal BMD group was greater than that in the participants with osteopenia (the low BMD group) (p = 0.039). Physical activity level was positively correlated to the total daily energy intake (r = 0.193, p = 0.041) only in the normal BMD group. The present results suggest that masticatory ability is associated with BMD in young females with normal BMD, but the role of muscle strength in those relationships remains unclear. Meanwhile, there was no relationship between masticatory ability and BMD in young individuals with lower BMD.

Factors affecting objective and subjective masticatory ability assessment of Korean elderly people / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to investigate factors affecting the assessment of objective and subjective masticatory ability in the elderly, and to evaluate masticatory ability assessment more accurately. METHODS: A total of 112 participants were recruited after oral examination in senior citizen welfare facilities. The participants' masticatory ability was evaluated objectively (Mixing ability index; MAI), and subjectively (Key food intake ability; KFIA). Participants' general characteristics and oral health-related variables were also recorded. Based on masticatory ability assessment, participants were classified as either high or low. IBM SPSS Statistics Ver.23.0 was used for all analyses, including descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman rank correlation, and Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Higher masticatory ability was positively correlated with higher scores on MAI and KFIA. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between MAI and KFIA. When analyzing factors affecting objective and subjective masticatory ability assessments, Functional tooth units (FTUs) were revealed as a related factor. In subjective masticatory ability assessment, oral moisture, difficulty in chewing, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) were also influential factors. CONCLUSIONS: In order to accurately assess masticatory ability, it is necessary to use both objective and subjective measures. Additionally, to improve the masticatory ability in the elderly, treatment should be provided to improve overall oral health and satisfaction.

The effects of dental prostheses to the quality of life among the elderly / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: This study has been conducted in order to examine the oral health status and dental prostheses status, and the effects of dental prostheses to the oral health related quality of life among the elderly using social welfare centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this purpose, the researcher conducted a questionnaire survey and oral examination of 275 samples of old persons using 7 social welfare centers located in Daejeon metropolitan city. The oral health related quality of life was measured by GOHAI (Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index). RESULTS: 1. The less age and the more education and the more subjective economic status and living with spouse of family status, the higher GOHAI showed. 2. Mean age of first using of removable denture is 62.11 years old and average life cycle of removable denture is 10.76years. 57.5% of study subjects use removable denture and complete denture user of study subjects are 13.8%. 3. In the case that they use fixed prostheses rather than removable ones and in the complete denture they use both sides (upper and lower) rather than single side, showed higher GOHAI. 4. In the case that they showed higher degrees of satisfaction with dental prostheses and can use them always and showed no necessity for new dental prostheses and denture adaptation is good, GOHAI showed higher. CONCLUSION: In order to improve oral health related quality of life among the elderly who have many missing teeth, it is required to restore their masticatory ability to the normal level by restoring the missing teeth which has lost its function through providing proper dental prostheses.