Factors associated with age-related changes in oral diadochokinesis and masticatory function in healthy old adults.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors associated with age-related changes in masticatory performance (MP) and oral diadochokinesis (ODK) and to provide normal values in healthy old adults for the diagnosis of oral frailty. METHODS: A total of 385 participants were divided into three age groups (Gr1-3): 20-64 years, 65-74 years, and ≥ 75 years. To investigate tongue-lip motor function, ODK was assessed as the number of repetitions of the monosyllables /pa/ta/ka/. Four questionnaires were used to assess subjective masticatory ability, cognitive ability, and psychological status. MP, bite force, and occlusal area were tested to assess dynamic objective masticatory function, and the number of remaining teeth and functional tooth pairs were determined to assess static objective masticatory function. Handgrip strength (HG), oral dryness, and tongue pressure (TP) were assessed to identify influencing factors. Intergroup differences were evaluated by ANOVA and the Kruskal‒Wallis test, and correlations between ODK and orofacial factors were evaluated. RESULTS: This study revealed significant age-related declines in TP, HG, and ODK, especially after 65 years of age. Factors affecting MP were posterior teeth, the Eichner index, bite force, occluding area, the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (KMMSE) score, and ODK. Each ODK syllable was associated with different factors, but common factors associated with ODK were MP, HG, and PHQ-9 score. For the syllables /pa/ta/, the Eichner Index, TP, and oral dryness were also associated. For the syllable /ka/ in Gr3, MP, TP, HG, oral dryness, and the KMMSE score were associated. CONCLUSIONS: These results could provide practical guidelines for oral rehabilitation in old adults and contribute to improving the understanding of age-related changes in oral function and the multidimensional nature of masticatory dynamics.

Zirconia-veneered polyetherketoneketone frameworks of implant-supported complete arch fixed dental prostheses: A report on 5 patients.

Metal frameworks have been used for implant-supported complete arch fixed dental prostheses (ISCFDPs) for maxillary or mandibular edentulous arches with a crown height space of more than 15 mm. However, technical difficulties in the casting, weight, and lack of passivity of the metal have led dentists and dental laboratory technicians to choose materials with different biomechanical properties, including polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK). This clinical report describes the design of ISCFDPs using PEKK frameworks, the number of cantilevers, the condition of the opposing dentition, and the incidence of complications, including zirconia crown or PEKK framework fracture, as well as the clinical outcomes of 5 patients observed prospectively over 8 to 65 months. No mechanical complications of PEKK-made ISCFDPs opposing removable prostheses occurred, regardless of the presence of cantilevers. The ISCFDPs that opposed natural dentition or a combination of the natural dentition and fixed prostheses showed different clinical outcomes depending on the length of cantilevers and the number and location of pontics.

Assessment of Age-Related Changes on Masticatory Function in a Population with Normal Dentition.

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.