Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the influence of changes in age-related physiological muscular and dental factors on masticatory function. This study was conducted in 211 healthy participants divided into four different age groups: 20–45 years (Gr1); 45–60 years (Gr2); 61–70 years (Gr3); and ≥71 years (Gr4). For objective evaluation of masticatory function, the masticatory performance, bite force, posterior bite area (PBA), functional tooth units (FTUs), the number of remaining teeth, tongue pressure, masseter muscle thickness (MMT), and handgrip strength were examined. Food intake ability (FIA) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 score were assessed subjectively using questionnaires. A significant decrease in the number of remaining teeth, FTUs, handgrip strength, and FIA was found in Gr4, and a significant decrease in the tongue pressure, PBA, and bite force was found in those aged ≥61 years. In groups 1 and 3, an association of the PBA with masticatory performance was observed. However, there was no significant decreasing trend in the MMT with respect to masticatory performance with aging. With sufficient FTUs and posterior tooth support, although age-dependent decreases in the bite force, tongue pressure and handgrip strength were observed, masticatory performance was maintained. Establishing the PBA by improving occlusion through dental treatment is thought to be important for masticatory function.
Highlights
It is commonly understood that muscle weakness occurring in the elderly population could reduce tongue pressure and lip motor function
Masticatory function can be representatively expressed in terms of masticatory performance and masticatory ability
As a cross-sectional study based on healthy dentate individuals, this study aimed to offer age-specific baseline data with clinical value for evaluating masticatory function
Summary
It is commonly understood that muscle weakness occurring in the elderly population could reduce tongue pressure and lip motor function. The evaluation of masticatory function includes objective methods used to measure an individual’s capacity and subjective methods used to measure an individual’s response [2]. In the objective evaluation of masticatory function, factors including the number of remaining teeth, occlusal strength, and perioral muscles are considered as the indicators of static masticatory function. As an organically linked dynamic process, mastication could be assessed as masticatory performance to measure mastication efficiency. Such methods used to evaluate masticatory performance include the sieving method to test comminution with natural [3] or artificial test food [4], the use of two-colored wax to test mixing [5], and the use of glucose gummies to test shearing [6]
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