Relationships between tooth loss and masticatory performance, nutrition intake, and nutritional status in the elderly

Objective: To analyze the associations between posterior tooth loss and masticatory performance, nutrition intake, and nutritional status in the elderly. Material and Methods: A total of 158 subjects aged 60 years and older from Depok, West Java, Indonesia were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Posterior teeth contacts were assessed and the subjects were divided into two groups based on Eichner Index; group A2–B3 and group B4–C3. The masticatory performance test was conducted using color-changeable chewing gum. A semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was used to measure nutritional intake in the form of total calories, and the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form was used to measure nutritional status. Mann Whitney U test was used to determine differences in masticatory performance, nutrition intake, and nutritional status between the two groups. Results: Seventy-four percent of participants were female, and 26% were male. A significant difference in the mean masticatory performance score (p<0.001) was noted between Eichner group A2–B3 (5.66 ± 1.80) and B4–C3 (3.20 ± 1.25). However, no statistically significant difference in nutritional status and calorie intake were found between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Despite the adequacy of nutrition intake and nutrition status in this population, tooth replacement is necessary to improve masticatory performance in both groups.