Objective: This study mainly focuses on the relationship of teeth status of the remaining teeth and masticatory abilities between dental clinic patients and evergreen school students in Taiwan.
Material & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from the oral examination by dentists and filling questionnaire including 441 dental clinic patients aged 45 years old and over adults in Nantou County?Taichung County?
Taichung City and Changhua County and 178 older evergreen school students from Wu-Feng township. Masticatory scores were evaluated using a questionnaire on masticatory concerning aspects of 23 foods. Using a linear regression model approach to analyze masticatory scores and other independent variables, like remaining teeth status and socioeconomic factors. Results: The results indicated that the number of the remaining teeth is associated with age?education status of dental clinic patients. and the number of teeth of older school students is
associated with age. The masticatory scores of the subjects were higher with more post canine teeth?functional tooth units, and functional teeth.
Conclusions: Masticatory abilities can be better maintained by sustaining the number of post canine teeth, functional teeth unit and functional teeth. Taiwan is becoming an aging society and to retain the oral health as well as chewing
abilities of the elderly in Taiwan, it is important to have more oral care promotions, regular dental visits, and treatment principals for tooth retention of older adults.
