title: Ten-year longitudinal study on the state of dentition and subjective masticatory ability in community-dwelling elderly people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to reveal whether the differences in further loss of teeth and occlusal supports, and change in masticatory ability depend on the status of dentition at the age of 70 in community-dwelling elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-year longitudinal survey was carried out on 349 (176 females and 173 males) elderly subjects. The subjects to be analyzed were classified into four groups in accordance with the classifications of Miyachi's Triangular Classification. Zone A: subjects with ten or more occlusal supports. Zone B: those with nine to five occlusal supports. Zone D: those with four or fewer occlusal supports and 11 or more remaining teeth. Zone C: those with ten or fewer remaining teeth. The numbers of remaining teeth and occlusal supports were recorded in both examinations. Questionnaires regarding their food intake status were given to subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects in Zone B had greater numbers of teeth loss than those in Zones A and C. Subjects in Zone B and D lost greater numbers of occlusal supports than subjects in Zones A and C. The number of food items that could be chewed had significantly decreased in subjects who remained in Zone A and those who changed from Zone B to Zones D and C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was shown that various states of dentition classified by Miyachi's Triangular Classification at the age of 70 resulted in different numbers of remaining teeth and occlusal supports and changes in masticatory ability 10 years later in community-dwelling elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Division of Comprehensive Prosthodontics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 5274 Gakkocho-2, Niigata City 951-8514, Japan. Electronic address: igarashi@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Division of Comprehensive Prosthodontics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 5274 Gakkocho-2, Niigata City 951-8514, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Division of Comprehensive Prosthodontics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 5274 Gakkocho-2, Niigata City 951-8514, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kon
authors.affiliation: Division of Comprehensive Prosthodontics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 5274 Gakkocho-2, Niigata City 951-8514, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.affiliation: Meirin College, 3-16-10, Masago, Niigata City 950-2086, Japan; Niigata University, 8050, Ikarashi 2-no-cho, Niigata City 950-2181, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Science for Health Promotion, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 5274 Gakkocho-2, Niigata City 951-8514, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshihara
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Dentistry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 5274 Gakkocho-2, Niigata City 951-8514, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003817:Dentition; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Dental status; Elderly people; Longitudinal study; Masticatory ability; Miyachi's Triangular Classification