RESUMO
AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between types of dentition in occlusion and the perceived ability to eat a range of common foods in elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 363 individuals (117 men, 246 women; mean age = 73.4 ± 5.8 years) Self-reported information on questionnaires were linked to oral examination to establish types of dentition in occlusion assessing their influence on the needs to alter the food selection and on the difficulty to chew key foods. RESULTS: The individuals were classified as having their occlusion performed by completed removable prostheses (D/D) (51.2%), mixed dentition (D/N-N/D) (32.8%) or with natural teeth (N/N) (16%). Individuals with natural teeth N/N or mixed dentition (N/D-D/N) had less necessity to change their food intake, relative to individuals with their occlusion performed by complete removal denture (D/D) (p<0.05). Most of the individuals that had to modify their food intake avoided hard-to-chew food (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The reduced masticatory ability may lead to changes in dietary selection with risk of an impaired nutritional status especially in elderly complete denture wearers.