Department of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, 1-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
J Dent. 2012 Jan;40(1):71-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2011.10.007. Epub 2011 Oct 21.
The purpose of this study was to establish the factors influencing the masticatory performance of older subjects with varying degrees of tooth loss and associated numbers of posterior occlusal contacts.
The subjects consisted of 1274 independently living people aged 60 years and over. Individuals with partially or fully edentulous arches without a denture replacement or those having any symptoms related to an oral problem were excluded from the study participants. Masticatory performance, maximal occlusal force and stimulated whole saliva were measured. Subjects were grouped into three categories by posterior occlusal contact, according to the Eichner Index. Group A had contacts in four support zones; group B had one to three zones of contact or contact in the anterior region only; and group C had no support zones at all, although a few teeth could still remain.
The masticatory performance in groups B and C was found to be 81% and 50% of that of group A, respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that in all the groups, occlusal force was significantly associated with masticatory performance. In groups A and B, the number of residual teeth was significantly associated with masticatory performance, whereas in group C, it had no significant relationship with masticatory performance. Salivary flow rate had a significant correlation with masticatory performance only in group C.
Declines in occlusal contact, occlusal force and salivary flow appear to be associated with reduction of masticatory performance in older adults. However, the crucial factors for masticatory performance varied, depending on the phase of occlusal collapse.
本研究旨在确定影响不同程度缺牙和后牙接触数的老年患者咀嚼性能的因素。
研究对象包括 1274 名 60 岁以上的独立生活者。排除未戴义齿或有任何口腔问题相关症状的部分或完全无牙弓的个体。测量咀嚼性能、最大牙合力和刺激全唾液。根据 Eichner 指数，将受试者分为三组，按后牙接触情况分组。A 组有四个支持区接触；B 组有一个至三个区接触或仅在前区接触；C 组则根本没有支持区，尽管可能还有几颗牙齿。
发现 B 组和 C 组的咀嚼性能分别为 A 组的 81%和 50%。多元线性回归分析表明，在所有组中，牙合力与咀嚼性能显著相关。在 A 组和 B 组中，残留牙齿数与咀嚼性能显著相关，而在 C 组中则无显著相关性。唾液流速仅在 C 组中与咀嚼性能有显著相关性。
后牙接触、牙合力和唾液流速的下降似乎与老年人咀嚼性能的下降有关。然而，咀嚼性能的关键因素因咬合崩溃的阶段而异。
