title: Comparison of the number and type of dental functional units in geriatric populations with diverse medical backgrounds.
abstract: Elderly subjects (N 430) from four convenience populations that represented different levels of medical health--independent living (Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs), nursing home, and hospitalized acute care--were given dental examinations. The independent living groups had significantly higher numbers of functional units (opposing natural or prosthetic tooth pairs) and of contiguous functional units compared with the nursing home and hospitalized groups. There was a shift from functional units that consisted of natural teeth to functional units that consisted of prosthetic teeth in the nursing home and hospitalized groups. Numbers of functional units were negatively correlated to plaque index, papillary bleeding scores, and minor salivary gland output. This study suggests a strong relationship between functional integrity of the dentition and general health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1078, USA.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Loesche
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bretz
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003817:Dentition; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000503:physiopathology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000503:physiopathology*