TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of the number and type of dental functional units in geriatric populations with diverse medical backgrounds
AU - Hildebrandt, Gary H.
AU - Loesche, Walter J.
AU - Lin, Chien Fu
AU - Bretz, Walter A.
PY - 1995/3
Y1 - 1995/3
N2 - Elderly subjects (N 430) from four convenience populations that representeddifferent levels of medical health-independent living (Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs), nursing home, and hospitalized acute care-were given dental examinations. The independent living groups had significantly higher numbers of functional units (opposing natural or prosthetic tooth pairs) and of contiguous functional units compared with the nursing home and hospitalized groups. There was a shift from functional units that consisted of natural teeth to functional units that consisted of prosthetic teeth in the nursing home and hospitalized groups. Numbers of functional units were negatively correlated to plaque index, papillary bleeding scores, and minor salivary gland output. This study suggests a strong relationship between functional integrity of the dentition and general health.
AB - Elderly subjects (N 430) from four convenience populations that representeddifferent levels of medical health-independent living (Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs), nursing home, and hospitalized acute care-were given dental examinations. The independent living groups had significantly higher numbers of functional units (opposing natural or prosthetic tooth pairs) and of contiguous functional units compared with the nursing home and hospitalized groups. There was a shift from functional units that consisted of natural teeth to functional units that consisted of prosthetic teeth in the nursing home and hospitalized groups. Numbers of functional units were negatively correlated to plaque index, papillary bleeding scores, and minor salivary gland output. This study suggests a strong relationship between functional integrity of the dentition and general health.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0022-3913(05)80202-1
DO - 10.1016/S0022-3913(05)80202-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 7760274
AN - SCOPUS:0029266018
SN - 0022-3913
VL - 73
SP - 253
EP - 261
JO - The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
JF - The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
IS - 3
ER -