Association and relevant factors between objective masticatory performance and subjective masticatory ability among community-dwelling older adults.

Background/purpose: Dentists often focus on masticatory performance (MP) rather than masticatory ability (MA) and treatment expectations when evaluating older adults. This study aimed to determine if MA aligns with MP and to explore influencing factors.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, including one thousand community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older. Participants underwent oral exams and questionnaire interviews, assessing tooth count and Eichner index (EI) levels. MP and MA were quantified using a standard gummy jelly test and a 14-food group questionnaire, respectively. Multivariable linear regressions analyzed correlations between MP, MA, and related factors.

Results: Approximately 25 % of participants exhibited poor MP. Factors contributing to poor MP included increased age rise, low education, number of chronic diseases, tooth loss, without the assistance of removable dentures, and being in EI group C (all  < 0.05). Tooth count showed a significant negative correlation with MP ( < 0.001). Participants' MP declined significantly from good to poor, with MA scores decreasing from 11.96 to 7.52 ( < 0.001). The tooth number was a common factor influencing MA across food groups (all  < 0.05). The decline in MA among older adults was linked to age rise, tooth loss, lack of assistance of removable dentures, and being in EI group C.

Conclusion: Self-rated MA in older adults effectively reflects their MP. Maintaining a high tooth count to meet occlusal support and the use of dentures to assist with tooth loss in older adults help to improve their MA.