title: Elderly with remaining teeth report less frailty and better quality of life than edentulous elderly: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: 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).
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hoeksema
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Slw
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spoorenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, Dental School, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hja
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Raghoebar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vissink
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wynia
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8676-2334
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000073496:Frailty / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report
keywords: dental diseases; geriatric conditions; periodontium; public health