Chen Feng-I, Chen Jen-Hao, Jeng Jiiang-Huei, Akifusa Sumio, Liu Hsiu-Yueh
School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Division of Prosthodontics, Department of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
J Dent Sci. 2025 Jan;20(1):69-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jds.2024.10.008. Epub 2024 Oct 23.
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.
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.
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.
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.
背景/目的：在评估老年人时，牙医通常关注咀嚼性能（MP）而非咀嚼能力（MA）和治疗期望。本研究旨在确定MA是否与MP相符，并探讨影响因素。
本横断面研究采用多阶段分层整群抽样，纳入1000名60岁及以上的社区居住成年人。参与者接受口腔检查和问卷调查，评估牙齿数量和艾希纳指数（EI）水平。分别使用标准软糖测试和14食物组问卷对MP和MA进行量化。多变量线性回归分析MP、MA及相关因素之间的相关性。
约25%的参与者表现出较差的MP。导致MP较差的因素包括年龄增长、低教育水平、慢性病数量、牙齿缺失、无活动假牙辅助以及处于EI C组（均P<0.05）。牙齿数量与MP呈显著负相关（P<0.001）。参与者的MP从良好到较差显著下降，MA评分从11.96降至7.52（P<0.001）。牙齿数量是影响各食物组MA的共同因素（均P<0.05）。老年人MA的下降与年龄增长、牙齿缺失、缺乏活动假牙辅助以及处于EI C组有关。
老年人自评的MA有效反映了他们的MP。保持较高的牙齿数量以满足咬合支持，以及使用假牙辅助老年人弥补牙齿缺失，有助于提高他们的MA。
