Masticatory Performance Test Using a Gummy Jelly for Older People with Low Masticatory Ability

Kazuhiro Murakami, Tasuku Yoshimoto, Kazuhiro Hori, Rikako Sato, Ma Therese Sta. Maria, Pinta Marito, Hinako Takano, Aye Mya Mya Khaing, Takashi Nokubi, Takahiro Ono

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Evaluation of masticatory ability has become more important in an aging society because decreased masticatory ability has the potential to affect the general health of older people. A new masticatory performance test, intended for older people with low masticatory ability, has been developed using gummy jelly half the size of that used in the conventional masticatory performance test. This study aimed to investigate the compatibility between the new and conventional tests and the adaptation of the new test. The new test using the 8-grade visual score with half-size gummy jelly was performed among 137 removable denture wearers (mean age 75.8 ± 9.0 years) with low masticatory performance (a score of ≤4 on a conventional test). The correlation between the scores of half-size gummy jelly (VS-H) in the new test and those of full-size gummy jelly (VS) in the conventional test was evaluated. VS-H among the groups divided by VS were also compared. A strong positive correlation was detected between VS-H and VS (rs = 0.70). In groups with VS of 0 and 1, VS-H values were widely distributed from 0 to 7. There were significant differences in VS-H between the groups with VS of 0–2 but no significant differences in VS-H between the groups with VS of 2–4. Therefore, the masticatory performance test using half-size gummy jelly is suitable for a detailed evaluation of masticatory ability in older people with low masticatory ability when their visual score of full-size gummy jelly in the conventional test is 2 or less.

Original languageEnglish
Article number593
JournalJournal of Clinical Medicine
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2023

Keywords

  • gummy jelly
  • mastication
  • masticatory performance
  • oral function

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Masticatory Performance Test Using a Gummy Jelly for Older People with Low Masticatory Ability'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this