Survey on the oral health and function of adults and elderly population in Vietnam

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the oral health status and function of adults, including elderly individuals, in Vietnam. We included 147 Vietnamese residents between 20 and 90 years of age in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sex, age, marital status, number of household members, occupation, annual income, regular dental visits, subjective health situation, and food diversity. The items evaluated included height, weight, grip strength, lower leg circumference, the oral health assessment tool, Japanese version, an oral examination, tongue coating index, oral dryness, tongue pressure, oral diadochokinesis (ODK), and masticatory function evaluation using glucose dissolved in the gummy jelly. The participants were divided into three groups for comparison: 20-49, 50-74, and over 75 years of age. The total number of teeth and number of functional teeth were significantly lower in the over 75 year group. Significant differences were found among the three groups with regard to food intake diversity scores. Furthermore, the tongue pressure, ODK, and glucose elution were significantly lower in the over 75 year group indicating that their oral function was significantly reduced. We concluded that it is necessary to maintain oral function and provide appropriate intervention to the aging population in Vietnam. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2025; 59: 113-122)