title: Tooth loss, chewing ability and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to observe the tooth loss over age in a sample of Brazilian patients and analyze their ability to chew, relating it to how much is the loss of oral function impact over the quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a single center, observational study and the data were collected through clinical examination followed of questionnaires to obtain sociodemographic information, the ability to chew (through the index of chewing ability [ICA]) and QoL (through Oral Health Impact Profile, OHIP-14).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was composed by 171 random volunteers with mean age of 47 (SD 15.2). Low number of natural teeth was associated with an increase of age (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient-0.7, P < 0.001, 2-tailed) and chew disability (ICA: chew's ability vs. disability) (Mann-Whitney U-Test, P < 0.001). Chew disability showed a negative impact over the QoL (overall OHIP; Mann-Whitney U Test P < 0.001) and in five of seven OHIP domains (Functional Limitation, Physical Pain, Psychological Discomfort, Physical Disability, Psychological Disability). Age over than 40 years, was also associated with chewing disability (Pearson Chi-Square P < 0.001) and poorer QoL (Mann-Whitney U test P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study observed that the chewing disability produces a significant and negative impact over oral-health related QoL and both, poor QoL and chewing disability are related with the decrease of the number of natural teeth.
authors: School of Dentistry, Health Bioscience Postgraduate Program, Tissue Aspects for Health Prognosis and Intervention Laboratory (LAPROG), Oeste de Santa Catarina University (UNOESC), Brazil.
authors: Marcelo Carlos
authors: MC
authors: Bortoluzzi
authors: Jefferson
authors: J
authors: Traebert
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Lasta
authors: Thaiany Naila
authors: TN
authors: Da Rosa
authors: Diogo Lenzi
authors: DL
authors: Capella
authors: Andréia Antoniuk
authors: AA
authors: Presta
keywords: Chew's ability; oral health impact profile-14; oral health-related quality of life; quality of life; tooth loss
references: J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2006 Sep;6(3):222-3
references: 17138446
references: J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2008 Dec;36(8):477-80
references: 18774302
references: J Contemp Dent Pract. 2010 Jan 01;11(1):E033-40
references: 20098964
references: J Public Health Dent. 1990 Summer;50(4):262-7
references: 2202825
references: Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2010 Nov 05;8:126
references: 21050499
references: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1997 Aug;25(4):284-90
references: 9332805
references: J Dent. 2008 Oct;36(10):816-21
references: 18603344
references: Community Dent Health. 1994 Mar;11(1):3-11
references: 8193981
references: Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2011 Oct;27(10):457-65
references: 21943819
references: Swed Dent J. 2005;29(4):139-55
references: 16463570
references: Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2011 Mar-Apr;52(2):197-201
references: 20399518
references: J Dent Res. 2000 Jul;79(7):1519-24
references: 11005738
references: Qual Life Res. 1993 Apr;2(2):153-9
references: 8518769
references: Gerodontology. 2012 Jun;29(2):e632-6
references: 21883422
references: Cien Saude Colet. 2010 May;15(3):841-50
references: 20464197
references: J Dent. 2011 Nov;39(11):711-9
references: 21924317