Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Mar;47(3):377-385.
doi: 10.1111/joor.12912. Epub 2019 Dec 8.

The effects of prosthetic status and dementia on the chewing efficiency of seniors in nursing homes

Anna-Luisa Klotz  1 , Judith Ehret  1 , Melania Zajac  1 , Franz Sebastian Schwindling  1 , Alexander Jochen Hassel  1 , Peter Rammelsberg  1 , Andreas Zenthöfer  1
Affiliations

The effects of prosthetic status and dementia on the chewing efficiency of seniors in nursing homes

Anna-Luisa Klotz et al. J Oral Rehabil. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The oral health of seniors in nursing homes is compromised. Furthermore, reduced chewing efficiency is described to be associated with reduced cognition. However, studies investigating how prosthetic status affects the chewing efficiency of nursing home residents are not available.

Objective: To evaluate associations between prosthetic status, dementia and chewing efficiency of seniors in nursing homes.

Methods: This study was performed in nine nursing homes. In addition to assessing the general and medical data of the participants, a dental examination was assessed and the severity of dementia was evaluated by use of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Furthermore, chewing efficiency was assessed by use of a two-colour mixing ability test. Descriptive and bivariate statistics, as well as linear regression models with the dependent variable chewing efficiency and possible confounders, were used to analyse data at P < .05.

Results: Complete target variables of 146 participants were analysed. The mean (SD) chewing efficiency of the study sample, as expressed by the variance of hue, was .590 (.250). The type of prosthesis used (P < .001), the number of occluding tooth pairs (P < .001) and the presence of dementia (P = .002) were the main variables significantly affecting chewing efficiency. The condition of removable dentures also had an effect (P = .016). Multivariate testing predominantly confirmed these associations.

Conclusion: The chewing efficiency of seniors in nursing homes is somewhat compromised. Beyond dental aspects, suffering from dementia seems to reduce the chewing efficiency. Further interventional/longitudinal studies are, however, encouraged to verify this outcome.

Keywords: chewing efficiency; clinical dementia rating; dementia; dental prostheses; nursing home; two-colour chewing gum test.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. World Health Organization. Active ageing: a policy framework. The Aging Male. 2002;5(1):1-37.
    1. Wimo A, Jönsson L, Bond J, Prince M, Winblad B. Alzheimer Disease International. The worldwide economic impact of dementia 2010. Alzheimers Dement. 2013;9(1):1-11.e3.
    1. Adam H, Preston AJ. The oral health of individuals with dementia in nursing homes. Gerodontology. 2006;23:99-105.
    1. Montal S, Tramini P, Triay JA, Valcarcel J. Oral hygiene and the need for treatment of the dependent institutionalised elderly. Gerodontology. 2006;23:67-72.
    1. Zenthöfer A, Dieke R, Dieke A, Wege KC, Rammelsberg P, Hassel AJ. Improving oral hygiene in the long-term care of the elderly-a RCT. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2013;41:261-268.

LinkOut - more resources