title: Chewing disability in older adults attributable to tooth loss and other oral conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluates associations between oral health-related factors and chewing ability, and quantifies the risk contributed by each factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chewing ability and information on number of teeth, dentures and dental problems over the last 12 months were collected by mailing questionnaires to a random sample of 60- to 71-year-olds from Adelaide, South Australia. Logistic regression was used to model oral status and oral symptoms as predictors of chewing disability, and to estimate the population-attributable fraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 444 persons responded (response rate = 68.8%). Among dentate subjects, 10.3% were chewing-deficient, with chewing disability more prevalent (p < 0.05) among those with <21 teeth (26.4%), dentures (20.4%), painful aching in the mouth (25.4%), pain in the face (16.7%), broken/chipped teeth (15.6%), sensitive teeth (14.1%), loose teeth (37.1%), and sore gums (18.0%). Adjusted Odds ratios (OR) showed inadequate dentition (OR = 4.20), painful aching in the mouth (OR = 4.88), and presence of loose teeth (OR = 4.70) were associated with chewing disability (p < 0.01), and their population attributable fractions were 18.5%, 15.1% and 7.8% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loose teeth, number of teeth and pain in the mouth were associated with chewing disability, with an inadequate dentition and pain in the mouth contributing most to chewing disability in this population.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Kiran A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D003778:Dentures; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013021:South Australia; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014098:Toothache / Q000503:physiopathology