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Elderly with remaining teeth report less frailty and better quality of life than edentulous elderly: a cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Hoeksema AR,
Spoorenberg SLW,
Peters LL,
Meijer HJA,
Raghoebar GM,
Vissink A,
Wynia K,
Visser A
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/odi.12644
Subject(s) - medicine , dentures , quality of life (healthcare) , oral health , cross sectional study , activities of daily living , elderly people , gerontology , dentistry , geriatric dentistry , geriatrics , physical therapy , nursing , pathology , psychiatry
Objective To assess oral status and self‐reported oral health in community‐living elderly and to determine differences between relevant subgroups of oral status (remaining teeth, edentulous, implant‐retained overdentures) and case complexity (robust, frail, complex care needs). Subjects and methods In this cross‐sectional descriptive study, 1325 Dutch community‐living elderly (≥75 years of age) were asked to complete validated questionnaires on frailty, activities of daily living ( ADL ), complexity of care needs, and QoL. Data on oral status, self‐reported oral health, dental care, general health, and medication use were assessed. Differences between relevant subgroups were determined. Results Data of 1026 (77%) elderly (median 80 years, IQR 77–84) were analyzed: 39% had remaining teeth, 51% were edentulous, and 10% had implant‐supported overdentures. Elderly with complex care needs ( n = 225, 22%) and frail elderly ( n = 217, 21%) were more often edentulous and reported more oral problems than robust elderly ( n = 584, 57%). Elderly persons with remaining teeth were less frail, had better QoL and ADL , and used fewer medicines than edentulous elderly. Elderly with implant‐supported overdentures performed better on frailty and QoL than edentulous elderly with conventional dentures. Conclusion Community‐living elderly commonly suffer from oral health problems, in particular elderly with complex care needs. QoL, ADL , and general health are higher among community‐living elderly with remaining teeth and implant‐supported overdentures than in edentulous elderly.