Factors Influencing Self-Rated Oral Health in Elderly People Residing in the Community: Results from the Korea Community Health Survey, 2016

Self-rated oral health among elderly patients attending a university dental hospital in Thailand: a telephone-based cross-sectional survey study

Background

Oral health perception is an influential predictor of both current and future health among the elderly. However, limited research has focused on self-rated oral health among older patients attending tertiary dental care. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential factors associated with self-rated oral health among elderly patients attending a university dental hospital in Thailand.

Methods

This telephone-based cross-sectional study was carried out among elderly patients older than 60 years who attended at least one dental visit at the university dental hospital in 2020. Hospital numbers (HN) were used to identify eligible candidates for this study. We calculated the sample size by assuming a finite population of 70,028 elderly patients with valid telephone numbers. The minimum sample required for this study was 398 participants. Trained interviewers conducted telephone calls between July 2021 and January 2022 using the validated modified oral health questionnaire. Self-rated oral health was assessed using a conventionally used global oral health question: "How would you describe your dental health?" with three response options: good, fair, and poor. Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and binary logistic regression were performed to analyze the data.

Results

A total of 836 telephone numbers were called. There were 402 (48.10%) elderly patients who agreed to and completed the telephone interview. Most of the study participants were women (61.4%) between 61-74 years of age (83.1%) with a mean age of 69.18 years. Bivariate analyses showed associations between poor self-rated oral health and lower subjective oral functions: chewing discomfort (p < 0.001) and speaking discomfort (p = 0.013). However, the multivariate regression model indicated a significant association between poor self-rated oral health and chewing discomfort (p < 0.001). Therefore, elderly patients with chewing discomfort were more likely to perceive poor oral health.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that difficulty chewing could be a potential factor influencing self-rated adverse oral health among older patients attending the university dental hospital. Furthermore, our study adds that the predictive power of a single-item self-measurement supports its value as a standard measure to predict oral health risk in tertiary care institutions, as well as primary care settings and community-based survey research. Therefore, healthcare providers should routinely evaluate self-rated oral health among elderly patients to detect early signs and symptoms of oral health problems, assess the success of dental treatments, and monitor general health and well-being.

Factors Associated with Self-reported Oral Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in a Rural Province of Thailand

Background

Limited research has focused on self-reported oral health in older Thai individuals.

Objective

We explored the factors associated with self-reported oral health among older adults residing in rural Thailand.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included males and females aged ≥ 60 years living in Phon Thong district, Roi Et province, a rural area in northeast Thailand. This community-based study was conducted between May 2021 and December 2021. A trained interviewer administered a face-to-face interview questionnaire. Study data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-squared test, and binary logistic regression.

Results

In total, 249 older individuals completed the interviews. Most study participants were aged ≥ 67 years (55.8%), with a mean age of 66.92 years. Pearson’s chi-squared test showed statistically significant associations between self-reported oral health and age (P = 0.035) and chewing ability (P = 0.005). The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between self-reported poor oral health and older age (AOR = 0.290, 95% CI: 0.091–0.925) and chewing discomfort (AOR = 4.032, 95% CI:1.119–14.56). We observed no significant associations between self-reported oral health and sex, toothbrushing frequency, and speaking ability.

Conclusion

Younger respondents with chewing discomfort were more likely to self-report poor oral health. In rural areas, nonprofessional health providers can use a single-item self-reported oral health question as a simple tool for evaluating oral health status in the elderly. Moreover, dental health education programs are needed to help older individuals improve their oral self-care, access dental services, and achieve appropriate oral function. Such programs are essential for promoting good oral health in this population, particularly among “younger” elders.

Oral health-related quality of life, probable depression and probable anxiety: evidence from a representative survey in Germany

BACKGROUND

There is limited knowledge regarding the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety. Our objective was to examine the association between oral health-related quality of life and probable depression and anxiety in the German population (stratified by sex).

METHODS

In sum, n = 3,075 individuals took part in a nationally representative survey (August/September 2021). The well-established Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; cut-off of 10) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7; cut-off of 10) were used to quantify probable depression and anxiety, respectively.

RESULTS

The likelihood of probable depression was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.18-1.25) and in both women and men. Additionally, the likelihood of probable anxiety was significantly associated with lower oral health-related quality of life in the total sample (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.14-1.21) and in both women and men.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study emphasized the association between lower oral health-related quality of life and probable depression as well as anxiety in the general adult population in Germany. Future longitudinal studies are required to confirm our findings.

Oral health status and behavior in elderly Koreans with periodontal disease

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate oral health status and oral health behaviors in elderly Koreans with periodontal disease.

METHODS

The data of the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018) were used. This cross-sectional study included 2981 individuals who were at least 65 years of age. Periodontal disease was assessed in oral health exams. Subjective oral health status (e.g., toothache) and oral health behaviors (e.g., tooth brushing and oral health examination) were assessed in health interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of periodontal disease in the study population was 47.5%. Individuals with periodontal disease were more likely to have a toothache than those without periodontal disease (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20-1.77). Individuals with periodontal disease were also more likely to have chewing discomfort (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.44) and less likely to use oral hygiene products (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.60-0.91) than those without periodontal disease.

CONCLUSIONS

About half of elderly had the periodontal disease. Elderly Koreans with periodontal disease were more likely to have poor oral health and behavior than those without periodontal disease. The results of this study provide an insight into social and behavioral factors associated with periodontal diseases in older Koreans. It is necessary to confirm these results through prospective studies.